General Mills Inc. announced vice chairman Ray Viault will retire from General Mills October 1, 2004. Viault has had overall responsibility for four General Mills' operating divisions including Meals, Pillsbury USA, Baking Products and Bakeries & Foodservice, as well as serving on the supervisory board of Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), General Mills' joint venture with Nestle.
Viault joined General Mills as vice chairman in 1996 with oversight for the international businesses and companywide financial activities. In 1998, his operating responsibilities were significantly expanded to include many of the company's domestic retail divisions. With the announcement of the Pillsbury acquisition in mid-2001, Viault was named to lead the planning for the integration of the two companies. Prior to joining General Mills, Viault had a 20-year career with Kraft General Foods, last serving as chief executive officer of Kraft Jacobs Suchard, based in Switzerland. He was responsible for its businesses throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, generating combined annual sales in excess of $10 billion.