People Lanette Shaffer Werner 646521a7cf315

General Mills Names Lanette Shaffer Werner Chief Innovation, Technology and Quality Officer

May 17, 2023

The 28-year veteran replaces Jodi Benson, who retires after 32 years with company.

Lanette Shaffer Werner, who joined General Mills as a research and development intern in 1995, on June 1 will become the company’s Chief Innovation, Technology and Quality Officer. She replaces Jodi Benson, who is retiring after 32 years with company.

“Lanette has a proven track record of valued contributions, technical experience and engaging leadership, and I’m confident she will advance our pursuit of innovation across General Mills,” said Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Jodi for her 32 years of contributions to General Mills and our portfolio of beloved brands,” he continued. “She is known across the company as a thought leader and a champion of our consumer above all else, and I wish her well in her retirement.”

Shaffer Werner most recently served as vice president, ITQ, Meals & Baking Solutions. She has held a variety of research and development roles in Frozen Desserts and Pillsbury, in addition to experiences in ingredient technology and strategy and innovation. She started with General Mills as a research and development intern, supporting Häagen-Dazs, in 1995.

About the Author

Dave Fusaro | Editor in Chief

Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.