HERSHEY, PA. — Michele Buck has been named executive vice-president and chief operating officer at The Hershey Co. Ms. Buck most recently was president of North America, where she led Hershey’s U.S. and Canadian businesses.
Ms. Buck joined Hershey in 2005 as senior vice-president and global chief marketing officer. In 2011, she was named global chief growth officer. 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.
In her new role, Ms. Buck will continue to lead Hershey’s day-to-day North American operations and now will oversee Hershey’s operations in Central and South America. The company’s global supply chain, sales, marketing, innovation, research and development, and consumer and shopper analytics and insights capabilities also now will report to Ms. Buck.
“Michele has worked closely with me for the past eight years as a partner and collaborator on the global growth strategies we are now pursuing,” said John P. Bilbrey, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer. “She is a seasoned and trusted executive who consistently delivers results. Her combination of industry, retail and consumer knowledge uniquely qualifies her to drive Hershey’s operating priorities. I have tremendous confidence in Michele's ability to build on Hershey’s competitive advantages with leading practices and new technologies and tools that will extend Hershey’s market leadership into the next generation.”
Ms. Buck serves on the board of directors at New York Life and as a benefit co-chair for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. 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.
