Patrick Simmons
About Patrick Simmons
Patrick Simmons is the Vice President of Sales at General Mills, with extensive experience in sales and marketing across North America.
Current Role at General Mills
Patrick Simmons is the Vice President of Sales at General Mills, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. In this position, he is responsible for overseeing sales channels, category management, retail sales, and customer marketing for all General Mills brands across Canada since 2015. His role focuses on effectively managing sales strategies and fostering robust customer relationships to drive the company's growth in the competitive North American market.
Previous Roles at General Mills
Patrick Simmons has held multiple high-level positions at General Mills, showcasing his long-term commitment to the company. From 2014 to 2015, he served as the Vice President of Trade Marketing in Minneapolis. Prior to that, he was the Vice President - Yoplait Yogurt Canada from 2012 to 2014. Earlier roles include Vice President Customer Marketing, Events, and Nascar from 2008 to 2012. His extensive tenure at General Mills also includes an 11-year period from 1991 to 2002 as Vice President in Minneapolis.
Experience as President
Before returning to General Mills, Patrick Simmons was the President of 8th Continent from 2002 to 2008. In this role, he led the company, driving strategic initiatives and managing overall operations. His leadership experience at 8th Continent provided him with valuable insights and skills that he later applied in his various high-ranking roles at General Mills.
Early Career at Opelin
Patrick Simmons began his professional journey at Opelin in Palo Alto, California. He initially worked as an Applications Engineer from 1985 to 1987, followed by a role as a Product Manager from 1987 to 1989. These early positions helped him build a solid foundation in product management and technical applications, which later supported his transition into marketing and leadership roles.
Educational Background
Patrick Simmons holds an MBA from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, where he studied from 1989 to 1991. He also earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, completing his degree between 1981 and 1985. His education provided him with a combination of technical knowledge and business acumen, critical to his successful career in sales and marketing.