Minneapolis, Minn., USA - October 1, 2014, Minneapolis, Minn., USA - General Mills, a food company, said that Mark Addicks, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, has announced plans to retire in 2015 after a stellar 26-year career with the company.
Article continues below
Mr. Addicks joined General Mills in 1988, and has been instrumental in driving the company’s global brand building strategies. As CMO, Mr. Addicks led General Mills’ advertising, promotions, brand public relations, design, packaging, online, licensing and multicultural initiatives.
He was named vice president of Marketing Communications in January 2000, and led the successful integration of the General Mills and Pillsbury marketing functions in 2001. He was named chief marketing officer in January 2004, and was promoted to his current position as senior vice president, CMO, in June 2007.
Mr. Addicks’ work has been widely recognized with numerous industry awards, both for his innovation and marketing expertise. Advertising Age named him one of the top 100 marketers in 1999, and one of the top 25 Power Brokers in both 2003 and 2004.
In addition, he has been a guest lecturer at some of the nation’s leading business programs, including Harvard, Tuck and the University of Chicago. He holds an MBA from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas.
Ann Simonds, the current president of General Mills’ Baking Products division, will succeed Mr. Addicks as chief marketing officer.
Since 2012, Ms. Simonds has led the General Mills Baking Products division as President. Ms. Simonds’ career spans leadership roles on brands such as Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Cheerios, Wheaties and Yoplait, as well general management roles in the company’s Convenience and Foodservice businesses.
Over the years, her teams have captured industry awards for purposeful, impactful campaigns. In 2011 she was named a top woman in grocery by Progressive Grocer for leading Betty Crocker into the digital age.
She spent five years as a marketer for Johnson & Johnson in the U.S. and Europe before joining General Mills in 1995. She represents the company at the National Association of Female Executives and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization.
Ms. Simonds holds an MBA from Harvard and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College. ■