General Mills Executive Michael Davis Wins Prestigious National Business Group on Health Award

Veteran Human Resources Leader Receives 9th Annual Award for Excellence and Innovation in Value Purchasing


WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - March 10, 2011) - The National Business Group on Health, a non-profit group of more than 300 large U.S. employers, today awarded its 9th Annual Award for Excellence and Innovation in Value Purchasing to Michael Davis, senior vice president, human resources, of General Mills. The award, which recognizes Davis for his leadership and commitment to employee health, productivity, overall well-being, wellness and cost management, was presented at the Business Group's annual Health Agenda Conference held in Washington, D.C.

"Mike is a forward thinker in the field of corporate health, employee benefits and productivity programs," said Martín Sepúlveda, MD, FACP, IBM Fellow and Vice President of Integrated Health Services, and Chair of the Business Group Board of Directors' Award Committee.  "His vision has helped General Mills foster one of the best, leading-edge health and benefits programs in the country. Mike has also brought his leadership skills to the National Business Group on Health, where he has influenced other employers to focus on the benefits of promoting health and wellbeing among employees."

Under Davis' leadership, General Mills became an early adopter of many value purchasing programs and tools, including a suite of consumer-directed health plans with both HSAs and HRAs offered to production and salaried employees alike, and use of a sophisticated data warehouse and benchmarking capability to design programs. General Mills has also been a Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles winner for the last five years. Furthermore, for more than two decades, General Mills has operated onsite health clinics and has provided programs and resources to employees that encourage them to live a healthy lifestyle.

In presenting the award, Helen Darling, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health, also recognized Davis for his many outstanding contributions to the Business Group as well as the corporate benefits industry as a whole. Davis served on the Business Group's Board of Directors from1997 to 2010 and was Chair of the Board from 2001 until 2005.

"Over the years, Mike has been instrumental in the development of many important initiatives at the Business Group including the creation of our Institute on Health Care Costs and Solutions, and Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity. He has also played a key role in transforming the Business Group both in size and relevance and in recruiting leading U.S. corporations and best-in class strategic partners to the organization. All of us congratulate him on receiving this prestigious award," said Darling.

About the Award for Excellence and Innovation in Value Purchasing

The Business Group annually awards individuals, organizations or programs that encourage the efficient use of health care resources in addition to improving quality and affordability; encourage excellent practices that are started by or involve large employers; or have a proven track record of increasing value in health care through superior purchasing practices or have developed approaches, methodologies and tools that enable outstanding health benefit management practices.

About the National Business Group on Health

The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit, membership organization of large employers devoted exclusively to finding innovative and forward-thinking solutions to their most important health care and related benefits issues and to being the voice for large employers on national health care issues. The Business Group, whose 320 members include 66 of the Fortune 100, identifies, develops and shares best practices in health benefits, disability, health and productivity, related paid time off and work/life balance issues. Business Group members provide health coverage for more than 55 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.

Contact Information:

Contact:
Ed Emerman
Eagle Public Relations
609-275-5162
eemerman@eaglepr.com