Quick Mixers

When Pillsbury Mills, Inc., second biggest U.S. flour-milling company, began putting its quick mixes for pies and cakes ("just add water") on the market in 1945, sales rose like popovers in a pan. The mix business, both for the home and for bakers, grew so fast that in 1949 Pillsbury opened a new plant. Last week Pillsbury's rewarded Paul S. Gerot, 49, the crack salesman who had put over the quick mixes. It made him president. Gerot, who came to Pillsbury fresh out of Northwestern University and swiftly climbed the ladder as a salesman, succeeds Philip Pillsbury, 49, who moved up to board chairman after 12 years as president. His father, John S. Pillsbury, 74, moved out of the chairmanship and became "honorary chairman."

Other top-level changes:

P: Into the presidency of General Mills, Inc., stepped Charles H. Bell, 44, the third generation of his family (his grandfather founded the predecessor company) to head the country's No. 1 milling company. After he left Yale University in 1929, Bell went to work at General Mills to learn the business from the ground up, became a top sales executive, and executive vice president in 1950. Bell succeeded Retiring-President Leslie N. Perrin, 65, who has headed the company since 1948.

P: Arthur K. Watson, 33, younger son of Thomas J. Watson, board chairman of International Business Machines Corp., was named a vice president and general manager of I.B.M. World Trade Corp., which handles all of the company's foreign business. Arthur is still several notches below his brother, Tom Jr., who took over the presidency of I.B.M. in January (TIME, Jan. 28). A Yaleman and World War II veteran, Arthur joined I.B.M. as a salesman in 1947.

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