General Mills names Dana McNabb Chief Operating Officer
In her elevated role, McNabb will expand her current oversight of North America Retail and North America Pet, the company’s largest and most profitable divisions, to include International operations and North America Foodservice
USA – General Mills has announced that Dana McNabb has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective June 1, 2026.
In addition to her current accountabilities leading North America Retail and North America Pet, McNabb will add responsibility for all of General Mills’ operating segments and key operating functions, including the International and North America Foodservice segments and the Digital & Technology, Innovation, Technology & Quality, Strategy and Growth, and Supply Chain teams.
McNabb will continue to report to Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening and join General Mills’ board of directors.
The appointment marks a significant elevation for one of the company’s most experienced executives.
McNabb, age 50, joined General Mills in 1999 and held a variety of marketing roles across cereal, snacks, meals, and new products before becoming Vice President of Marketing for Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) in 2011.
She went on to serve as President of the US Cereal Operating Unit in 2016, Group President of Europe & Australia in January 2020, and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer in July 2021, before being named Group President of North America Retail in January 2024.
Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening expressed strong confidence in the appointment.
Harmening described McNabb as “a disciplined, strategic leader and results-driven operator with a proven passion for our brands and consumers,” adding that she has led an initiative to reinvigorate the company’s brands by strengthening their remarkability, and is “exceptionally well suited to lead our global operations and restore profitable growth for General Mills and our shareholders.”
McNabb’s promotion reflects the company’s intent to consolidate operational leadership and accelerate profitable growth across its global portfolio.
McNabb’s promotion follows other recent executive updates, including the appointment of Jonathan Ness as Chief Supply Chain Officer and the expansion of Jaime Montemayor’s role to include the office of transformation.
Together, this new leadership team is responsible for guiding the US$19 billion company through a period of structural modernization and portfolio shaping, including the recent divestiture of its North American yogurt business and various international assets.
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