MINNEAPOLIS — Ian Friendly, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of U.S. Retail at General Mills, Inc., will retire on June 30. Jeffrey L. Harmening will succeed him and take over the position on May 1 following a transition period set to start March 1.

Mr. Friendly joined General Mills in 1983 and held various positions before becoming vice-president of Cereal Partners Worldwide in 1994, president of Yoplait in 1998, senior vice-president of General Mills in 2000 and president of the Big G cereals division in 2002. In 2004, he was named chief executive officer of C.P.W. Mr. Friendly was named to his present position in 2006.

Mr. Harmening is currently the company’s senior vice-president and c.e.o. of C.P.W. Mr. Harmening began his career at General Mills in 1994. Since that time, he has held various marketing roles in the Betty Crocker, Yoplait USA and Big G divisions. He was promoted to marketing director in 2000, and he held marketing director leadership roles in Big G New Enterprises and Foodservice New Business.