Ken Powell

Powell was born circa 1954 in Denver, Colorado. He graduated from Harvard University in 1976,[1] and three years later earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.[2]

Powell joined General Mills in 1979.[3] He subsequently held a variety of management positions at the company. From 1999 to 2004, he was CEO of Cereal Partners Worldwide, a joint venture between General Mills and Nestlé.[4] In 2005, he was appointed as the company's U.S. retail unit chief.[5] In May 2006, he was promoted to president and chief operating officer. In September 2007, Powell was appointed as General Mill's CEO,[6] then chairman of the board of directors in the following year.[7] He retired in 2017.[8]

Powell serves on the board of directors of Medtronic, Inc.[7][9] and on the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota.[10]

As CEO of General Mills in 2009, Powell received total compensation of $9,221,035, which included a base salary of $959,583, a cash bonus of $1,910,770, stocks granted of $3,720,566, options granted of $2,276,223, and other compensation of $353,893.[11] His 2011 total compensation of $8,609,199 included a base salary of $973,042, a cash bonus of $1,926,622, stocks granted of $3,724,528, options granted of $1,705,426, and other compensation of $278,981.[12]

Powell is married to Wendy Bennett.[13] They have two daughters.[10]