Carla Vernon, president of General Mills’ natural and organic brands unit, has left the company, apparently voluntarily. She’s replaced by Emily Thomas, named to the new role of vice president and managing director of natural and organic.
“I chose to leave General Mills because I am looking forward to trying some new things,” she told website Nosh, and called her 22 years with the company “ a gift I treasure.” She didn’t specify where she was headed.
Vernon oversaw the Annie’s, Epic, Immaculate Baking, Cascadian Farm and Muir Glen brands. Vernon took over as president of the company’s Annie’s natural foods unit in 2017 after CEO John Foraker left General Mills to run baby food startup Once Upon a Farm.
Vernón joined General Mills in 1998 as an associate marketing manager in the snacks unit. She also had roles at Cereal, Corporate Development and the Small Planet Foods business.
General Mills purchased Annie’s in 2014 for $820 million.
