General Mills Named a Global ‘Top Company for Leaders’ Company advances three places in worldwide study on leadership

General Mills jumped to third place in the 2009 list of the Global Top Companies for Leaders, advancing three places from its 2007 ranking.

“We place great value in developing strong leaders throughout the company,” said Ken Powell, chairman and chief executive officer of General Mills. “That helps us recruit and retain talented people. And it helps create a positive work culture that continues to deliver top-tier results.”

The biennial global study of more than 500 companies and the resulting list were developed by Hewitt Associates, a global human resources consulting and outsourcing company, in conjunction with The RBL Group, a strategic human resources and leadership systems advisory firm, and Fortune.

In an online story announcing the winners, Fortune cites General Mills’ focus on developing inspirational managers and encouraging volunteerism as a way to build leadership skills.

According to Fortune, “Leadership training also goes beyond the walls of the General Mills headquarters. The company has built community service into its culture, with 82 percent of employees doing some sort of volunteer work.”

General Mills offers career-long development opportunities for employees at each stage of their careers, including mentoring, access to leadership experts and speakers, training at the General Mills Institute, tuition reimbursement, and individual development planning.

“We’ve always believed that building great brands and great talent go hand-in-hand,” said Kevin Wilde, vice president and chief learning officer for General Mills. “This recognition reinforces our commitment to growing leaders. We’re honored to be ranked among the best in the world.”

An independent, expert panel of judges selected the Global Top Companies based on criteria including strength of leadership practices and culture, examples of leader development on a global scale, impact of leadership in communities in which they operate, business performance, and company reputation.

“Through our research, it’s clear that Global Top Companies such as General Mills do not abandon key leadership and talent efforts in favor of short-term goals,” said Bob Gandossy, global practice leader of Hewitt’s Leadership Consulting practice. “Leaders at these organizations are passionate and committed. They have an intense focus on talent and their leadership programs are practical, relevant and aligned with business goals - in good times and in bad.”

See the full list of 2009 Global Top Companies for Leaders on Fortune’s Web site.

About General Mills
One of the world’s leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.