Pankaj Sharma
About Pankaj Sharma
Pankaj Sharma is the Segment President for North America Foodservice at General Mills, with extensive experience in global brand development and marketing strategy.
Company
Pankaj Sharma is currently working at General Mills as the Segment President, North America Foodservice. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. General Mills is known for its iconic brands such as Pillsbury, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Gold Medal Flour, and Yoplait. Pankaj Sharma sits on General Mills’ Senior Leadership Team and leads the North America Foodservice segment, which focuses on delivering strong share growth and profit expansion through both organic and inorganic strategies.
Title
Pankaj Sharma holds the position of Segment President, North America Foodservice at General Mills, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This role involves overseeing the foodservice segment in North America, which includes well-known brands and targets both developed and developing markets to achieve robust business results. Previously, he has served in other senior roles within General Mills, including President of Meals & Baking Solutions, Natural & Organic, US Retail, and President of Yogurt, US Retail.
Work Experience
Pankaj Sharma has an extensive background in management and marketing, with experience spanning various high-level roles. His tenure at General Mills includes positions such as President, Meals & Baking Solutions, Natural & Organic, US Retail (2019-2024) and President, Yogurt, US Retail (2018-2019). Prior to General Mills, he worked at Unilever in prominent roles including Strategy Director, Unilever Europe & EA to President, Unilever Europe (2013-2014), Marketing Director Spreads Category UK & Ireland (2011-2013), Global and European Brand Development Director (2009-2011), Senior Brand Manager, Unilever India (2002-2004), and Area Sales & Customer Manager, Unilever India (1998-2002).
Education and Expertise
Pankaj Sharma holds multiple degrees and certifications from prestigious institutions. He completed the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2023. Additionally, he earned an MBA from IMD in 2005, an MBA with a major in Marketing from the Faculty of Management Studies - University of Delhi in 1997, and a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electrical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1995. He also attended Air Force Bal Bharti School, Delhi, and Methodist High School. His background imparts a deep understanding of general management, marketing strategy, and consumer markets globally.
Global Work Experience
Pankaj Sharma has a diverse international work history, having lived and worked in India, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States. His career journey has provided him with comprehensive experience in both developed and developing markets across multiple product categories. Sharma is adept at managing large and complex multi-billion dollar businesses, building and leading global, multi-country, and cross-functional teams. His expertise in customer development, distribution management, and strategic marketing is reinforced by a strong understanding of consumer market dynamics worldwide.