Managing Director, Häagen-Dazs Japan

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.​


Role overview
The Managing Director, Häagen-Dazs Japan Joint Venture is responsible for helping General Mills effectively represent its interests in the Häagen-Dazs Japan joint venture through strategic influence and guidance. This role serves as a bridge between General Mills and Häagen-Dazs Japan, helping Board members anticipate issues, align on positions, and build an effective and harmonious partnership that supports growth, profit margin, dividend delivery, export expansion, and stewardship of the global Häagen-Dazs brand. This is an influence role at a senior level and is expected to be based in Japan.

Key accountabilities

- Represent General Mills effectively on the board and to the HDJ by understanding General Mills’ position, communicating strategically, and helping align GMI Board members ahead of business updates and Board meetings.
- Build strong, trusted relationships with HDJ leadership to enable General Mills Board members to be effective, well-informed, and engaged.
- Influence HDJ’s annual business plan and mid-term growth strategy on key General Mills outcomes, including growth, profit, dividend, and capital decisions, before Board approvals are finalized.
- Support growth of the HDJ export business in key Asian markets by partnering on strategy, enabling cross-functional connections, and improving the process for effective information sharing.
- Enable focused best-practice sharing between HDJ and General Mills by filtering requests, clarifying why asks matter, and ensuring follow-through on how shared information will be used to build the global brand.
- Help ensure Häagen-Dazs brand guidelines are upheld and that major strategic shifts remain aligned with the needs of the global brand.
- Influence the partnership to balance top-line growth with bottom-line delivery, including productivity and HMM priorities.

What success looks like

- General Mills Board members are prepared, aligned, and able to represent enterprise interests effectively in HDJ forums.
- General Mills has early visibility to risks, concerns, and decision points that affect the joint venture’s performance and governance.
- HDJ and General Mills continue to work together in ways that support both local business performance and the long-term strength of the global Häagen-Dazs brand.

Minimum qualifications

- Significant experience working effectively across both Japanese and multinational business environments.
- Demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility with senior leaders and operate as an advisor in complex stakeholder environments.
- Strong strategic and financial acumen, including the ability to understand business plans, profit and dividend implications, and capital requests.
- Strong influencing capability, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, work across matrices, and orchestrate outcomes without direct authority.
- Clear judgment and discipline to operate as a Board representative and bridge between HDJ and General Mills rather than a business operator.
- Strong English speaking and written skills
- Prior experience in operating a multi-national business or brand

Preferred experiences

- Experience serving on, advising, or partnering closely with a Board, joint venture, or similarly complex strategic partnership.
- Experience supporting brand stewardship, strategic planning, and cross-border growth initiatives.
- Experience owning a PNL and being responsible for both topline and bottomline target achievement
- Finance leadership experience or a strong finance profile, preferred.


ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet minimum age qualifications in the country in which the job is located.