General Mills appointed Chief Operating Officer Dana McNabb as its next Chief Executive Officer, making her the first woman to lead the Minneapolis-based cereal and packaged-foods maker in its 160-year history. McNabb, 50, has spent 27 years at General Mills in senior roles spanning general management, enterprise strategy, marketing and international operations. She will succeed Jeff Harmening on Jan. 1, when he becomes executive chair after nearly a decade as CEO. Harmening oversaw General Mills' entry into pet food through the Blue Buffalo deal, portfolio changes and increased investment in digital capabilities. McNabb will lead the company through high inflation, subdued consumer spending, private-label pressure, tariff-related packaging costs, elevated supply-chain expenses and efforts to attract younger shoppers. Analysts said she must restore profitable growth, focus the portfolio on core and health-oriented brands, modernize the supply chain and make established products worth their prices. General Mills recently exceeded first-quarter sales and profit estimates and reaffirmed its annual forecast. Its shares, down about 27% this year, fell about 3% in morning trading.