Marketing

Marc S. Firestone will step down in April; Gerhard W. Pleuhs will become General Counsel.

Griffin will combine with Acostas Marketing Group to form AMG Strategic Advisors, a new business unit to be led by Griffins co-founder and CEO Carrie Shea.

The General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network shares key insights of its X3 Process, a new approach developed to provide a step-by-step roadmap for the company's open innovation projects. Why share? General Mills anticipates others will find success using the non-linear approach to guide innovation efforts as well.

Minneapolis-based Crispin grew approximately 200 percent in 2011, outpacing the overall cider categorys 26 percent growth during the same period.

?The company intensifies its focus on Health & Hygiene and faster growing consumer markets to fuel another decade of market outperformance.

Analysts say the move may be inspired by the success of Apple Inc., which has hundreds of its own stores to show off interactive gadgets and accessories.

Facing flat market shares and growing pressure to cut costs, the company is banking on digital marketing to help contain media spending long-term.