Harper, Mike

Harper, Mike (Charles Michael)

(1927– ) food company executive; born in Lansing, Mich. He spent 20 years at Pillsbury Company before moving to ConAgra, Inc., Omaha (1974). As variously president, CEO, and chairman of the board (1976) he rescued ConAgra from near-bankruptcy; through acquisitions such as Banquet Frozen Foods and Armour Foods, he created one of the largest food companies in the country.