The Grocer – 24 August 2019

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General Mills shuffles

management team

GM said the

changes reflected a

‘thoughtful and

strategic approach’

Elena Cherubini
Global food giant General
Mills has announced
a series of changes to
its management team,
including the planned
retirement of CFO Don
Mulligan next year.
Mulligan, who joined
the company 21 years
ago and took on the role
of CFO in 2007, will be
replaced by current con-
troller Kofi Bruce with
effect from February

2020. He will then offi-
      cially retire from General
      Mills next June.
      The $16.8bn company

• whose brands include
  Häagen-Dazs, Old El
  Paso, Nature Valley
  and Green Giant – said
  the changes reflected a
  “thoughtful and strate-
  gic approach to long-term
  growth and succession

planning”. Chairman

and CEO Jeff Harmening

described Mulligan as

an “incredible asset” to

the business during his

tenure.

Mulligan had been

“instrumental” in gener-

ating value for the com-

pany’s shareholders

by “helping craft plans

that balanced long-term

growth and profitability”,

Harmening added.

Bruce will be promoted

to VP of financial opera-

tions in September ahead

of taking on the CFO

position next February.

He joined General Mills

in 2009, serving in vari-

ous roles including treas-

urer and VP for finance in

the US.

Among other changes

to the leadership team,

General Mills’ group

president for the pet

segment Billy Bishop

will assume the role of

founder & brand advi-

sor of the segment from

January, stepping down

from the day-to-day

operations of the busi-

ness but maintaining an

advisor role on brand

strategy.

Group president for

Europe & Australia

Bethany Quam, who

joined General Mills in

1993, will replace Bishop,

assuming the role of

president of the pet seg-

ment with effect from

October.

Quam will be, in turn,

replaced by president of

US cereal Dana McNabb

from January 2020.

Joe Davies is a successful

company specialising

in the import and

distribution of giftware

from the Far East, with

turnover of over £15m.

Due to continued

growth and as a part of

long-term succession

planning, two rare

opportunities exist to

join the business at a

senior level.

A head of buying is

required to lead the

buying team and product

selection, while a new

buyer will work closely

with them.

Interested? See p45.

i want that job

my alternative cv

What was your first job?

I went from school into

gigging bands. I’m still

the drummer for a couple

of metal bands.

What’s been your worst

job interview? I had an

interview where I had to

get changed in the dark

in a police car park. I

realised after the inter-

view my trouser zip was

down... but I got the job.

What was the first music

single you bought? Iron

Maiden, Run to the Hills.

How do you describe

your job to your mates?

I explain that we are the

good guys. Everyone

loves a beer and we help

make that experience the

best it can be.

What is the most reward-

ing part of your job?

I love getting results.

When our customers see

the results from install-

ing Beer Piper’s systems,

and see the savings they

have made, there is a real

sense of satisfaction.

What is the least reward-

ing part? When a cus-

tomer doesn’t take

on board the tools we

offer and their beer is

suffering.

What is your motto in

life? Don’t leave anything

on the pitch.

If you were allowed one

dream perk, what would

it be? A long weekend

in Santa Monica every

summer.

Any phobias? I’m not

great with spiders and

my knocking knees on

‘Go Ape’ confirmed I

don’t like heights.

If you could change one

thing in grocery, what

would it be? I would

make sure everyone took

pride in their offerings

and reduced their waste

output.

What luxury would you

have on a desert island?

My MP3 player loaded

with Apple Music. I can’t

go a day without my

metal music. I would

jump off the island for the

sharks.

What animal most

reflects your personal-

ity? Probably a dog. I

am very loyal, excitable

and keen. I’m also toilet

trained.

What’s your favour-

ite film? I watch a lot of

movies with my seven-

year-old and I have a one-

year-old dog. We recently

watched A Dog’s Purpose

• there were tears. I am
  going soft in my old age.
  Which celebrity would
  you most like to work
  with? Dave Grohl from
  Foo Fighters. An iconic
  character, loved by so
  many.
  What would your death
  row meal be? I think it
  would be humble pie...
  washed down with a
  good-quality pint, of
  course.

Jeff Singer
Commercial manager, Beer
Piper, on Iron Maiden,
Santa Monica and humble
pie

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