13 - GARY RODKIN, CEO, ConAgra Foods
Next we look at Gary Rodkin, CEO of branded and private label food giant ConAgra Foods.
Pathway to the top: Rodkin spent his formative years at General Mills, where he held a series of marketing and general management positions, culminating in a stint as president of the Yoplait yogurt division. He joined Tropicana as its president in 1995 (it was acquired by PepsiCo in 1998) and later became president of PepsiCo’s North American business. He joined ConAgra as CEO in 2005.
Education: Rodkin has a bachelor's degree in economics from Rutgers College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.