Chris O’Leary oversees the International division and General Mills Canada, and has the direct operating responsibility of the International Division.

Previously as president of the Meals Division, Chris had broad responsibilities for overseeing the business operations of six convenient dinner solution categories: Helpers, Old El Paso, Green Giant, specialty potatoes and side dishes, and Progresso soups.

O’Leary joined General Mills in Dec. 1997 as vice president, Corporate Growth. He was elected a General Mills senior vice president in July 1999 and was named president of the Meals division in 2001.

Prior to joining General Mills, O’Leary spent 17 years at PepsiCo, Inc., last serving as president and chief executive officer of the Hostess Frito-Lay business in Canada. O’Leary served as vice president of marketing for Walkers-Smiths in the United Kingdom beginning in 1992, and then transferred back to the United States as an area general manager for Frito-Lay in 1994.

O’Leary is active serving on the board of the Minneapolis YMCA, and on the board of TDS Telecom.

O’Leary is a 1981 graduate of Pace University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. In 1986, he completed an MBA at New York University.

Chris O'Leary Photo (JPEG, 223 KB)