General Mills Appoints Dana McNabb as CEO, Effective January 2027

General Mills has appointed Chief Operating Officer Dana McNabb as its next CEO, with the transition scheduled for January 1, 2027. Current CEO Jeff Harmening will become executive chair of the board.

Announced on September 30, 2026, the appointment follows a multi-year succession planning process. McNabb has spent 27 years at General Mills and became COO in June 2026, overseeing the company’s operating segments and major business functions, including its North America Pet business.

The appointment is relevant to the pet food industry because General Mills owns Blue Buffalo, a major pet food brand. McNabb’s existing responsibilities give her direct experience with the company’s pet food operations as well as its broader consumer goods business.

Her appointment comes as packaged food companies face pressure from price-sensitive consumers, private-label competition and operating costs. McNabb will need to balance these challenges with the company’s growth priorities across its businesses.

For pet food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, distributors and retailers, the leadership change is worth monitoring. However, General Mills has not announced specific changes to Blue Buffalo’s product portfolio, sourcing policies or supplier network as part of the CEO transition.

Further developments after January 2027 may provide a clearer indication of McNabb’s priorities for the pet food business.