The Hershey Co. has announced that Michele Buck will be retiring from her positions as president and CEO effective June 30, 2026.
The chocolate maker said Buck intends to serve in her existing roles until her successor is appointed, at which time she plans to resign from the board and transition to a senior advisor role until her retirement.
The announcement comes just one month after sweets and snacks company Mondelēz International Inc. explored an acquisition of Hershey and the departure of former executive Michael Del Pozzo.
Buck has been president and CEO since March 2017. She joined Hershey in 2005 and has held the roles of executive vice president and COO and president of the North America division.
Photograph courtesy of The Hershey Co.
“It has been the pinnacle of my career to lead Hershey, a truly one-of-a-kind company,” said Buck. “Our team has created one of the strongest and most recognizable snacking portfolios in the industry, and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished. As we embark on a new year, I believe now is the right time to formally activate our succession planning and begin the transition to Hershey's next leader.”
The company said the board has appointed a special committee to direct the search for its next CEO and will consider external and internal candidates, in partnership with a nationally recognized search firm.
“The board is grateful for Michele’s vision and transformational leadership, not only over the past eight years as our CEO but for the past two decades,” said Victor Crawford, lead independent director of the board. “Michele has made innumerable marks on Hershey, including serving as the key architect of the company's expansion into broader snacking categories, driving sustainable international growth and building advanced capabilities and growth platforms to evolve Hershey into a stronger and more diversified business.”
The Hershey Co., which has more than 90 brands in approximately 80 countries is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
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