Hershey names Mary Beth West its growth officer

Mary Beth West will step into the role of senior vice president and chief growth officer on May 1. She will report to CEO Michele Buck.

She comes to Hershey from retailer J.C. Penney Co., but previously spent two decades at Kraft Foods and successor Mondelez International, which tried unsuccessfully to buy The Hershey Co. last year.

“Mary Beth will be a great addition to our executive team,” said Buck, who assumed leadership of the Dauphin County-based candy company on March 1.

“She is an accomplished business leader who is considered one of the best food executives and marketers in the industry. Her deep experience in growing some of the world’s best-known consumer brands and demonstrated ability to transform consumer engagement will be a tremendous asset to Hershey as we chart our growth agenda,” Buck added.

As Buck took the reins, the company also announced a new growth strategy. Under its “Margin for Growth” strategy, Hershey is looking to achieve an adjusted operating profit margin between 22 and 23 percent over the next three years.

That plan also calls for continued investment in its core confectionery business, as well as workforce cuts outside the U.S. One of those doubling-down moves came last week, as Hershey announced a new twist on the company’s classic Reese’s Peanut Butter cups.

Buck also named a new executive team recently.

West will oversee the company’s growth strategy, including insights and analytics; strategy; marketing excellence functions; innovation, research and development; mergers and acquisitions; as well as The Hershey Experience.

She brings 30 years of executive and marketing leadership to the company, having served most recently as executive vice president, chief customer and marketing officer at retailer J.C. Penney Co., where she was responsible for revitalizing the JCPenney brand.

For more than 20 years, West served in executive positions at Mondelez International, Inc., previously Kraft Foods, including roles as its chief category and marketing officer and president of both its North American beverage and grocery businesses.

West has served on the Board of Directors for J.C. Penney. She  currently sits on the board of directors for toy maker Hasbro Inc. and the boards of trustees for both The Wallace Foundation and Mercy Ships.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Nazareth College of Rochester, N.Y., and an MBA in marketing from Columbia University.

West plans to relocate to the Hershey area with her husband and four children, company officials said.