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Buck named as chairman of Hershey
The Hershey Co. has elected current president and CEO Michele Buck as chairman of the board of directors, according to the company.
Buck will continue to serve in her current leadership roles she has held since March 2017 while running the Derry Township-based candy and snack company. She succeeds Chuck Davis, who served as the chairman since May 2018, and who will re-assume his role of lead independent director he held from May 2017 until his appointment as chairman of the board.
Company officials said the combination of Buck’s offices of CEO and chairman of the board underscored their confidence in her leadership and strategic vision for growth of Hershey.
“These changes to our board reflect Michele’s vision and leadership and we look forward to supporting The Hershey Co. on its journey to becoming an innovative snacking powerhouse,” said Davis. “Hershey has a rich legacy of creating shareholder value in a manner that reflects our principles of excellence, togetherness, integrity and making a difference.”
According to newspaper records, Buck grew up in Carlisle and went on to develop a reputation as an innovator, amassing two decades of executive experience in the consumer packaged foods sector. She worked with Kraft/Nabisco in numerous senior positions and at the Frito-Lay division of PepsiCo before returning to the region in 2005 to work at Hershey, one of Pennsylvania’s most iconic brands.
She graduated from Shippensburg University in 1982 and went on to earn her MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Buck thanked Davis for his leadership as chairman in helping to spearhead efforts in the company currently celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. According to company records, Hershey employs 16,500 workers around the world and had more than $7.8 billion in annual revenues last year.
“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,” said Buck. “I am privileged to succeed him as he re-assumes the role of lead independent director.”
