The board of directors of Hershey-based The Hershey Co., a snacks company, recently appointed Kirk Tanner as president and CEO, effective Aug. 18.
Tanner is The Wendy’s Company president and CEO. He has led a strategy focused on innovation, operational excellence, core brand growth and accelerating new unit growth globally. In addition, he spent more than three decades at PepsiCo where he held several senior leadership including PepsiCo Beverages North America CEO, PepsiCo Global Foodservice president, Frito-Lay North America’s West Division senior vice president, and PepsiCo U.K. and Ireland vice president of sales.
“Kirk is a proven, high-impact leader in the food and beverage industry with a great combination of customer and consumer passion, commercial acumen and operational scale,” Mary Kay Haben, CEO Search Committee lead independent director and chairwoman, said. “With a track record of driving growth in complex global businesses, Kirk brings a focused, results-driven mindset.”
Tanner replaces Michele Buck who is retiring.
The Hershey Co. employs more than 20,000 people worldwide. It sells products in approximately 70 countries and generates more than $11.2 billion in annual revenue. The company’s brands include Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kisses, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, Shaq-a-licious, SkinnyPop and Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels.