General Mills names new ceo

MINNEAPOLIS General Mills has named Kendall Powell ceo of the company. Powell joined the company in 1979 and was most recently president and coo. He succeeds Steve Sanger, who has served as General Mills chairman and ceo since May 1995. Sanger will continue as chairman through the end of the current fiscal year in May 2008.

"The board and I have great confidence that Ken will be an outstanding ceo of General Mills," said Sanger. "He has extensive knowledge of our global food categories, our customers, and our worldwide operations. This deep-seated understanding of our business, coupled with Ken's commitment to our culture and the development of our people, make him uniquely qualified to lead General Mills in the next phase of our long-term growth."

Powell has held a variety of general management assignments over his 28-year career with General Mills, including president of the Yoplait division from 1996 to 1997; president of Big G Cereals from 1997 to 1999; and ceo of the company's Cereal Partners Worldwide joint venture with Nestle based in Switzerland from 1999 to 2004.