John F. Haugen
SVP, Health and Wellness Center of Excellence, General Mills

John Haugen coordinates key health initiatives across the organization that can create meaningful benefits to consumers and energize core businesses at General Mills.

Haugen joined General Mills in 1990 as an Assistant Marketing Manager. He has held numerous positions in marketing during his tenure at the company, including Snacks Unlimited, Betty Crocker Products and Big G Cereals. He also spent one year in Personnel as Manager of Recruitment, Marketing. He was promoted to Marketing Director at General Mills in 1997 and to Vice President in 2001. He served in this capacity for Yoplait USA, driving business growth of ~15% CGR for three years. In 2003, he moved to the Big G Cereal Division, where he led the New Enterprises team. There, his accomplishments included the portfolio conversion to whole grain and launch of Yogurt Burst Cheerios. Haugen was tapped to lead the newly created Health and Wellness Center of Excellence in October, 2005. In this role, he has led several innovative programs including the launch of Curves Foods (cereal, snacks) and the sponsorship of the Best Life Diet. In January 2009 he launched the Pound for Pound Challenge in collaboration with Feeding America and NBC’s hit TV series The Biggest Loser. Over the past 4 years General Mills has made nutritional enhancements to over 40% of its product line.

Haugen received a BA in Mathematics and Economics from St. Olaf College in 1986. He received his MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA in 1990.

Haugen lives with his wife, Linda, and their four children in Minneapolis. He has served on the boards of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and the St. Olaf College Alumni Association. His interests are competitive endurance sports (2007 Ironman, 7 marathons, 1996 Boston qualifier), ice hockey and worship music.