Hershey appoints Buck as CEO, president
Hershey has announced that its board of directors has appointed Michele Buck, currently the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, as Hershey’s next president and chief executive officer, effective March 1, 2017.
Hershey has announced that its board of directors has appointed Michele Buck, currently the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, as Hershey’s next president and chief executive officer, effective March 1, 2017. She will succeed John P. Bilbrey, who previously announced his intention to retire from the company. Bilbrey will continue as non-executive chairman of Hershey’s board of directors following his retirement.
“Michele is a proven leader who, during 11 years at Hershey and more than 25 years as an executive in the consumer packaged goods industry, has a demonstrated track record of building brands consumers love while bringing out the best in employees amid a rapidly changing business environment,” said Bilbrey.
Since joining the company in 2005, Buck has spearheaded the development and execution of many successful growth initiatives and strategic shifts at the company, most notably Hershey’s growth in its core confection portfolio as it moved from a supply- to demand-driven business model. She was the architect of the company’s strategy to expand into broader snacking categories and oversaw the acquisitions of Krave and barkThins brands.