Benjamin Bienert

General manager l $2Bn P&L Leader l Engineering & MBA l Global Commercial Strategy & Demand Generation Specializing in scaling complex operations and consumer growth in global markets.

Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Vaud, Switzerland

About

I am a general manager who thrives at the intersection of technical complexity and commercial scale. With a foundation in mechanical engineering and an MBA, I bridge the gap between "how a product is built" and "how a market is won". My career began on the manufacturing floor at General Mills where I learned the discipline of operational excellence firsthand. I transitioned that "builder" mindset into the commercial world, eventually leading a $2Bn Pillsbury P&L and steering global demand generation for Cereal Partners Worldwide across more than 80 countries. I don't just "manage" brands, I architect growth. Whether it is optimizing unit economics and revenue management, navigating complex global regulatory landscapes, or leading large-scale capability transformations, I focus on driving velocity without sacrificing operational stability. Why I am different: - Technically Rooted: I speak the language of R&D and operations, ensuring commercial strategies are grounded in reality. - Scale-Proven Leadership: I have managed multi-billion dollar portfolios and high-stakes P&Ls during volatile market shifts - Global Complexity: Honed how to harmonize strategic brand and capability building across 80+ diverse international markets - Revenue Growth & Innovation: A proven track record in pricing strategy, revenue management, cost savings and product-led growth

Experience

  • Director of Global Brand Building at Cereal Partners Worldwide (Nestlé & General Mills)
    Aug 2023 - Present · 3 yrs

    Leading and transforming global brand building, media and marketing capabilities across 1.6Bn CHF CPW cereal business selling in 100+ countries. Incorporating technologies to optimize demand generation on iconic brands like Nesquik, Cheerios, Chocapic, Lion, Fitness. Enhancing marketing effectiveness while driving efficiency to re-invest in long-term brand building.

  • General Mills (9 yrs 2 mos)
    • Sr. Brand Manager - Pillsbury Franchise
      Aug 2020 - Aug 2023 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      P&L leader responsible for driving top line, bottom line and share growth at scale of the $2Bn Pillsbury portfolio across 3 categories and a team of more than 25 people (6 direct reports). Accountable for execution across brand strategy, pricing and unit economics, product-led growth, cost management, portfolio management, and retail negotiations. Navigated significant supply disruptions and inflation from COVID-19 pandemic to ensure long-term P&L health while maintaining consumer penetration and retailer support.

    • Brand Manager- Cereal Revenue and Margin Management
      Aug 2018 - Aug 2020 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Delivered over $85 Million in annual P&L value through revenue management (pricing) and Margin Management (cost savings) strategies across the $2B cereal operating unit. Developed strategic long-range plans for Revenue and Margin Management to ensure continued future investment and overall margin expansion. Led a team of two direct reports and 20+ indirect cross-functional reports to execute critical projects. Navigated a highly matrixed structure to secure buy-in and resources from senior leaders that unlocked key pillars of my strategies and ensured success.

    • Sr. Associate Brand Manager - Cheerios
      Jan 2017 - Aug 2018 · 1 yr 8 mos

      Managed a $1+ Billion Cheerios P&L inclusive of pricing, volume forecasting and demand generation. Leveraged data-driven analysis to build long-term brand strategies across core 3 businesses. Led brand annual planning process to bring long-term strategy to life YOY. Led creation of consumer communication (briefing, feedback, production shoots) and launched the "Good Goes Round" platform inclusive of activations and events around our partnership with The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Managed media and creative agency relationships, media planning & budgeting and execution of the Cheerios campaign from idea to connections in market.

  • Brand Enterprise Consultant at Carlson School of Management
    Mar 2013 - May 2014 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Led strategic 14-week projects for real clients across industries: General Mills, Covidien, and DreamWorks Animation. Led client engagement and project delivery, with a team of MBA peers, to achieve full strategic recommendations leading to in-market implementation.

  • Associate Brand Manager Intern at Campbell Soup Company
    Jun 2013 - Aug 2013 · 3 mos

    Led market and trend analysis across All-Family Beverage portfolio (V8 Splash, V8 V-Fusion) to create an innovation framework and pipeline. Created brand consumer profiles to enable stronger strategic plans and creative resonance as well as enhancing their social media plans. Built a strategy to increase HH penetration in the value segment of shelf-stable juice category through new and impactful core consumer insights.

  • General Mills ()
    • Team Leader II
      Jan 2010 - Jul 2012 · 2 yrs 7 mos

      Led day-to-day operations in a cereal factory across a team of 30 manufacturing technicians. Managed production schedules, operations costs, employee relations and team development to deliver manufacturing KPIs. Led with agility to resolve production issues and ensure improved reliability and throughput while lowering cost per case. With effective team management skills, I was able to significantly increase employee engagement scores YOY.

    • Operations Management Associate
      Jul 2008 - Jan 2010 · 1 yr 7 mos

      Rotational development role with projects across engineering, safety, finance and operations with experience in new product start-ups (Chocolate and Banana Nut Cheerios), and the creation of financial planning and analysis tools. Concurrently, I led a packaging department of 14 technicians in day-to-day operations management.