R. Kerry Clark, independent lead director of the General Mills board, said: "The board unanimously cast its vote for Jeff as the best candidate to lead this venerable 150-year-old company. Jeff knows how to build talented teams and has extensive experience both in the U.S. and globally. He is not afraid to challenge the status quo and he is a tenacious and resilient leader."
Harmening, who joined General Mills in 1994 and assumed his role as president and COO in July of 2016, has steadily climbed up the corporate ladder, most recently expanding the company's presence in the natural and organic segment through the acquisitions of Annie's and EPIC Provisions.