Ann Simonds Vice President; President, Baking Products

Ann Simonds became president of the Baking Products Division in June of 2006.

Simonds joined General Mills in 1995, and has had been both marketing manager and marketing director of Big G and Yoplait. In 2001, she was promoted to vice president of marketing for Big G, and in 2005 was named vice president and general manager of Bakeries and Foodservice.

During her career at General Mills, she has stewarded leading brands such as Yoplait, Betty Crocker, Cheerios and Wheaties.  Her teams have received two Chairman’s Awards and several Effie’s for outstanding advertising.

Her work has also involved in strategic philanthropy, driving profitable growth through programs such as the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Literacy Program and the Circle of Healthy Hearts Women’s Heart Health initiative. She is a pioneer in Multicultural Marketing and has held leadership roles in the Women’s Forum helping General Mills achieve the Catalyst Award and Top Ten Companies for Working Mothers.  She is currently serving as the Chairman of the 2006 United Way Campaign at General Mills.

A 1990 graduate of Harvard’s MBA program, she spent five years as a marketer for Johnson & Johnson in the U.S. and Europe.