General Mills’ Shawn O’Grady to Retire This Summer
General Mills announced the retirement of Shawn O’Grady, group president, North America foodservice. To facilitate a smooth transition, O’Grady will move into a senior advisor role until his retirement early this summer. Effective Feb. 16, Jon Nudi, group president, pet and international, will add NAF to his oversight. Pankaj Sharma, president, U.S. meals & baking solutions operating unit, will be promoted to segment president, NAF. Sharma will report to Nudi and join the General Mills Senior Leadership Team.
“Shawn has been a tremendous asset to General Mills over the past 35 years, most recently leading our North America foodservice business through the pandemic to significant growth for the enterprise,” said Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO, General Mills. “Shawn’s enthusiasm for his team and General Mills consumers is truly unmatched, and he and his leadership will be missed.”
Sharma joined the company in 2014 and is president, U.S. meals & baking solutions , which serves 85 percent of families in the United States and is comprised of iconic brands, including Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Betty Crocker, Annie’s and Progresso. Previously, Sharma served as president, U.S. Yogurt operating unit, and vice president, marketing, Europe & Australia segment, based in Nyon, Switzerland.
“Jon overseeing NAF, as well as pet and international, will drive further operational agility for our business,” Harmening said. “And I’m thrilled to have Pankaj, who has a history of delivering strong business results in a variety of operating environments, join our Senior Leadership Team.”
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Daul to Retire From Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits announced the retirement of Patrick Daul, president, West Region, effective July.
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Patrick for many years, whose journey at Southern Glazer’s reflects not only his deep industry expertise, but also his unwavering dedication,” said John Wittig, chief commercial officer, Southern Glazer’s. “His strategic leadership has left an indelible mark and his mentorship has been instrumental in the career development of numerous leaders. As Patrick embarks on a well-deserved retirement, we celebrate his legacy of excellence and thank him for his outstanding contributions to the company.”
Commencing his career journey at Southern Glazer’s in 1992 as the director of wine sales in Northern California, Daul has navigated through several pivotal roles at the company. He assumed the role of vice president, general sales manager for the American Wines & Spirits division in 1997 and was promoted to Northern California general sales manager for the newly created Pacific Wine & Spirits division in 2002.
From 2005 to 2011, Daul served as vice president, general manager for the California division of PWS, focusing on Diageo and Moët Hennessy USA portfolios. Daul’s trajectory continued with leadership positions of increasing responsibility, including senior vice president of sales & marketing and senior vice president of commercial strategy for the state of California. Currently, Daul serves as president, West Region, marking the latest milestone in his accomplished career at Southern Glazer’s.
“Patrick’s retirement is a significant occasion, and we express our deepest gratitude for his exemplary leadership at Southern Glazer’s,” said Wayne E. Chaplin, chief executive officer, Southern Glazer’s. “His strategic foresight has been significant, and his legacy will continue to resonate throughout our organization.”
An announcement for Daul’s replacement will be forthcoming.
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, building brands for moments that matter. The multi-generational, family-owned Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, as well as brokerage operations through its WEBB Banks division in the Caribbean, Central and South America. The company urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits.
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Dollar Tree Expands COO Creedon’s Leadership Duties
Dollar Tree, Inc. announced a key role expansion for the company’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Creedon, who will add leadership of Dollar Tree & Family Dollar Merchandising and Supply Chain to his scope.
“We are fortunate to have an incredibly talented and dedicated leadership team at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. As we’ve worked together over the last year to build our transformation strategy, Mike has served as a key leader driving our operational path forward,” said chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling. “In this expanded role, Mike will have full end-to-end accountability for delivering a best-in-class store experience for our customers. As I shared with our associates, while Mike and I will continue to work closely together, I am committed to leading this company and I remain fully engaged in all areas of the business.
Lead Independent Director Edward J. Kelly III said, “The organization is at an important inflection point as it executes its transformation plan. With Mike in this expanded role, working closely with Rick at the helm, we bring together key elements of that strategy that will have a significant positive impact on the company.”
With this alignment, Dollar Tree Chief Merchandising Officer Rick McNeely, Family Dollar Chief Merchandising Officer Larry Gatta and Chief Supply Chain Officer Mike Kindy will report to Creedon.
Before joining Dollar Tree in 2022, Creedon held several leadership roles at Advance Auto Parts for almost nine years, most recently as EVP and president of U.S. Stores. He also held executive positions with Tyco International and ADT Security.
Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of Oct. 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree Canada.
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