ARLINGTON, Va. — Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO of General Mills Inc., has been elected as the new chairman of the board of directors for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).

A member of the GMA board since 2017, Harmening succeeds Vivek Sankaran, who joined Albertsons Companies as president and CEO in March. Benno Dorer, chair and CEO of The Clorox Co., was elected vice chairman of the board.

“Jeff has already been a tremendous asset as a member of GMA’s board of directors, and I know he’ll be an excellent partner as chairman,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the GMA “During his 25-year career at General Mills, Jeff has developed a keen understanding of the CPG industry, and his guidance and counsel will be invaluable as we continue to reimagine GMA”

Harmening takes the helm of the 110-year-old trade organization during a time of transformation. The GMA is in the process of “reimagining itself to better meet the needs of its member companies and represent the totality of the CPG industry,” the organization said.

“I’m thrilled to lead GMA’s board of directors as it enters into the next chapter in its storied history as the leading advocate for consumer packaged goods on Capitol Hill and around the country,” Mr. Harmening said. “I’m encouraged by the new direction of the organization and look forward to working with Geoff and the rest of the board during this pivotal time for the industry.”

Harmening joined General Mills in 1994 and has held various leadership roles with the company in both the United States and Europe. He was named CEO in June 2017 and elected to General Mills’ board of directors in January 2018. Under Harmening’s leadership, General Mills said, the company has grown to the second-largest maker of natural and organic foods in the country.