LeadershipHuman Resources

Before You Quit: What 20 Years at Kellogg Taught This Executive

SHRM
SHRM•Jun 12, 2026

Why It Matters

His perspective highlights strategic tradeoffs for HR and talent leaders: retaining senior talent preserves institutional knowledge and mitigates disruption from turnover, while recruitment strategies should emphasize values alignment, development pathways and long‑term incentives. This matters for companies designing retention, succession and total‑reward programs amid a more mobile workforce.

Summary

Chris Boehner, senior adviser at Mars Snacking and formerly chief global corporate affairs officer at Kellanova (formerly Kellogg), reflects on 20 years at one company and argues long tenure yields measurable career advantages. He credits staying with building deep relationships, institutional fluency, earned autonomy, and the ability to see long-term impact from decisions, while noting executive retention is also shaped by long‑term incentives and external forces like M&A. Boehner recommends assessing values alignment, fair performance management, and development opportunities when deciding whether to stay, and warns against trading long‑term growth for short‑term title or pay gains. He frames mentorship and the “power of compounding” — incremental gains stacking over time — as central to sustained career progress.

Original Description

In this episode of People + Strategy, we sit down with Kris Bahner, senior advisor for Mars Snacking and former chief global corporate affairs officer at Kellanova, to explore the state of employee retention in 2026. Drawing on a 35-year career with two decades with Kellogg and Kellanova, Bahner shares why staying can be a powerful career strategy in an era defined by job hopping. She explains how long-term investments in relationships, trust, and institutional knowledge can accelerate growth and leadership impact. Bahner also reflects on leading through major transformations, including Kellogg’s spinoff in 2023 and the Mars acquisition of Kellanova in 2025. She offers insights on retaining talent and helping employees thrive through change.
Resources from this Week's Episode -
Toolkit: Managing Organizational Change
Toolkit: Improving Employee Retention and Reducing Turnover https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/toolkits/managing-employee-retention
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