Michele G. Buck has been elected chairman of the board of directors at The Hershey Co. She succeeds Charles A. “Chuck” Davis, who will reassume the role of lead independent director, a position he held from May 2017 to May 2018.
Ms. Buck has been president and chief executive officer of Hershey since March 2017. In combining the offices of c.e.o. and chairman, Hershey said it is showing its confidence in Hershey, the existing management team and Ms. Buck. Under Ms. Buck’s leadership, Hershey said the company has delivered strong financial results while executing on the strategic vision of the company through portfolio expansion and profitable international growth.
Ms. Buck joined Hershey in 2005 as senior vice-president and global chief marketing officer, a position she held for six years before advancing to the role of senior vice-president and global chief growth officer in 2011. In 2013, she became senior vice-president and president of North America, and in June 2107 she was promoted to executive vice-president and chief operating officer, with responsibility for leading the company’s commercial operations. During her tenure at Hershey, she has spearheaded the development and execution of a number of strategic initiatives, including the company’s move from a supply-driven business model to a demand-driven business model. She has led Hershey’s expansion into broader snacking categories, overseeing the acquisitions of the Krave jerky and barkThins snacking chocolate brands.
Prior to joining Hershey in 2005, Ms. Buck served 17 years at Kraft/Nabisco in numerous senior positions and at the Frito-Lay division of PepsiCo, Inc. A native of central Pennsylvania, she received a bachelor’s degree at Shippensburg University and a master’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“For the past couple of years, I’ve had the honor to work closely with Chuck Davis in his role as chairman and it has been an incredible opportunity to learn from one of the best,” Ms. Buck said. “I am privileged to succeed him as he reassumes the role of lead independent director. On behalf of everyone here at Hershey, I’d like to thank Chuck for his continued leadership and sage counsel as we position Hershey for another 125 years of success.”
By Eric Schroeder
Source: Food Business News
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