John Morikis
GENERAL MILLSAbout John G. Morikis
John G. Morikis, age 61, is an independent director of General Mills since 2024. He serves on the Audit Committee and the Finance Committee and has been designated by the board as an “audit committee financial expert,” reflecting his accounting and financial management expertise. His background includes a 40-year career at Sherwin-Williams, where he served as CEO (2016–Dec 2023), Chairman (2017–Dec 2023), and Executive Chairman (Jan–Dec 2024), bringing senior executive leadership, consumer/industrial market insight, and global experience to GIS’s board oversight.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Executive Chairman | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 | Provides informed perspective on operating and growing a large consumer-facing company; financial/portfolio shaping and risk management expertise valuable to GIS’s finance and audit committees. |
| Sherwin-Williams | Chairman | 2017 – Dec 2023 | Senior executive leadership and governance expertise applicable to board effectiveness. |
| Sherwin-Williams | Chief Executive Officer | 2016 – Dec 2023 | Industry focus, accounting/financial experience, and global experience that supports oversight of GIS’s strategy and operations. |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status/Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool Corporation | Director | Current (as of 2025) | Listed under “Other Public Directorships.” |
| United Parcel Service, Inc. | Director | Current (as of 2025) | Listed under “Other Public Directorships.” |
| Sherwin-Williams | Director | 2015 – 2025 | Listed with tenure; prior role as Executive Chairman in 2024. |
| Fortune Brands Innovations | Director | 2012 – 2024 | Prior public company board service. |
Board Governance
- Independence: The board affirmatively determined all non‑employee directors are independent under NYSE standards and GIS guidelines.
- Committee assignments and meeting cadence:
- Audit Committee member; committee met seven times in FY2025; Morikis is an audit committee financial expert per SEC/NYSE definitions.
- Finance Committee member; committee met four times in FY2025.
- Attendance: The board met eight times and board committees met a total of 22 times in FY2025; all directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate total of board and committee meetings; all then‑serving directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting.
- Other board service policy: GIS limits directors to no more than four total public company boards; audit committee service capped at three public company audit committees absent board determination.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Detail | FY2025 Treatment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual retainer (independent director) | $100,000 | Paid quarterly; election to receive in cash or stock | Standard for all independent directors. |
| Audit Committee member fee | $5,000 | Additional annual cash retainer | Applies to audit committee members; Morikis is a member. |
| Total fees earned (Morikis) | $105,000 | FY2025 | Per director compensation table. |
| Retainer payment form (Morikis) | Common stock | 1,725 shares issued in lieu of cash | Valued at closing sales price on quarterly payment dates. |
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting/Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual/reelection) | Sep 24, 2024 | 2,441 | $180,073 | RSUs generally vest at next annual meeting; dividend equivalents accrue and are paid only upon vesting. |
| Annual Meeting (vesting reference) | Sep 30, 2025 | — | — | 2025 Annual Meeting date for vesting reference under “generally vests at next annual meeting” policy. |
Performance metrics table (directors):
| Metric Category | FY2025 Design |
|---|---|
| Performance metrics tied to director pay | None – director RSUs are time-based; no options or performance criteria disclosed. |
| Clawbacks (context—executives) | Robust clawback policies apply to executive incentives; no separate director performance plan. |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to GIS | Potential Interlock Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool Corporation | Other public directorship | No related‑party transactions involving Morikis disclosed; director independence affirmed. |
| United Parcel Service, Inc. | Other public directorship | No related‑party transactions involving Morikis disclosed; director independence affirmed. |
| Sherwin-Williams | Prior public directorship/executive | Prior executive roles; no GIS related‑party transactions disclosed involving Morikis. |
| Fortune Brands Innovations | Prior public directorship | No GIS related‑party transactions disclosed involving Morikis. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Top skills highlighted: Senior Executive Leadership; Industry Focus; Accounting and Financial Experience; Governance Expertise; Global Experience.
- Audit committee financial expert designation by the board (SEC/NYSE criteria).
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount/Status | As of/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (Morikis) | 11,400 shares | As of July 31, 2025; percent of class <1%. |
| Exercisable options (Morikis) | — | None listed. |
| Unvested RSUs (Morikis) | 2,441 | At fiscal year‑end for directors reelected in 2024. |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 5x annual cash retainer | All independent directors met/exceeded, except Dorer (joined in 2024). |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for executives and directors | No pledging permitted; alignment safeguard. |
Insider filings/compliance:
| Item | FY2025 Status |
|---|---|
| Delinquent Section 16(a) reports (Morikis) | None disclosed; late reports noted for other individuals, not Morikis. |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Morikis brings CEO-level operating experience and portfolio/risk oversight from Sherwin-Williams, aligning with GIS’s need for consumer-facing and global expertise; he serves on both Audit and Finance, reinforcing financial discipline and capital allocation oversight.
- Independence and financial oversight: Independence affirmed for all non‑employee directors; Morikis is explicitly designated an audit committee financial expert, a positive signal for audit quality and controls.
- Attendance/engagement: All directors met at least 75% attendance and attended the 2024 Annual Meeting, supporting board engagement.
- Ownership alignment: Morikis elected to take the retainer in stock (1,725 shares) and holds unvested RSUs; directors are required to meet 5x retainer ownership and Morikis met/exceeded this guideline (only Dorer was excepted). Prohibitions on hedging/pledging further strengthen alignment.
- Conflicts/related-party exposure: GIS’s related‑person policy is robust; no related‑party transactions were disclosed involving Morikis in FY2025.
- Workload limits: GIS restricts directors to four total public company boards; the board reviewed nominees’ capacity and determined all have the willingness and capacity to serve effectively.
RED FLAGS
- None disclosed specific to Morikis regarding attendance, related‑party transactions, hedging/pledging, or delinquent filings in FY2025.