Jeff Harmening, chairman of the Board and CEO of General Mills, has been elected as the new chairman of the Board of Directors for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), the trade organization representing the world’s leading consumer packaged goods companies.

Harmening, who has served on the Board since 2017, succeeds Vivek Sankaran, who was recently appointed the CEO of Albertsons. Benno Dorer, chair and CEO of The Clorox Company, was elected as the Board’s vice-chairman.

“Jeff has already been a tremendous asset as a member of GMA’s Board of Directors, and I know he’ll be an excellent partner as chairman,” said GMA president and CEO Geoff Freeman. “During his 25-year career at General Mills, Jeff has developed a keen understanding of the CPG industry and his guidance and counsel will be invaluable as we continue to reimagine GMA.”

Harmening takes the helm of the 110-year-old trade organization as it undergoes a major transformation to reimagine itself to better meet the needs of its member companies and represent the totality of the CPG industry.

“I’m thrilled to lead GMA’s Board of Directors as it enters into the next chapter in its storied history as the leading advocate for consumer packaged goods on Capitol Hill and around the country,” said Harmening. “I’m encouraged by the new direction of the organization and look forward to working with Geoff and the rest of the Board during this pivotal time for the industry.”

Harmening joined General Mills in 1994 and has worked for the company in the United States and Europe. General Mills is home to some of the most iconic brands in the world, including Cheerios, Yoplait, Annie’s, Betty Crocker and Blue Buffalo. Under Harmening’s leadership, General Mills has grown to the second-largest maker of natural and organic foods in the country.