The Star Tribune reported that the board of directors of the Carlson Companies has selected chief financial officer and OCB alumna Trudy Rautio '84 M.B.A., a 15-year Carlson executive, to replace outgoing CEO Hubert Joly in heading the company.
A native of International Falls, the 59-year-old Rautio is a graduate of Bemidji State University with an MBA from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business. Before Carlson, Rautio served as chief financial officer for Josten’s Inc. and as vice president of finance for the Pillsbury Co. before its merger with General Mills.
Carlson board chairwoman Marilyn Carlson Nelson called Rautio "the ideal leader" to carry the company's "strong momentum" into the future. "We have complete confidence in Trudy's ability to lead us," Nelson said. "Trudy will be a wonderful steward of our culture."
During an interview, Rautio said, "I'm very humbled and very grateful to the family and the brand. Things went very, very fast."
Hubert Joly, Carlson's previous CEO, left the company to assume the top position at Best Buy, which has ended its months-long leadership search. Joly is replacing Best Buy interim CEO and Opus College of Business alumnus G. "Mike" Mikan '94 B.A.
Originally published: 08/20/2012, Star Tribune
