Ex-Pepsi Beverages CEO Kirk Tanner Named CEO of Hershey, Succeeding Michele Buck
Hershey Co. today (July 8) announced Michele Buck’s successor as president/CEO. Kirk Tanner, who spent more than three decades at PepsiCo, ultimately as CEO of PepsiCo Beverages North America and currently is CEO of Wendy's Co., will take over Aug. 18.
Buck announced her intention to retire from the company this January, after 20 years with the chocolate, candy and increasingly salty snack company. As CEO since 2017 and chairman since 2019, she largely steered Hershey’s acquisitions into snacks, acquiring Amplify Brands (Skinny Pop and Pirate’s Booty), Dot’s Pretzels and most recently Lesser Evil.
In her January announcement, Buck said she planned to retire on June 30, 2026. Presumably, she will remain chairman until that date.
"Kirk is a proven, high-impact leader in the food & beverage industry with a great combination of customer and consumer passion, commercial acumen and operational scale," said Mary Kay Haben, lead independent director and chair of the CEO Search Committee – and a former head of Kraft Cheese.
"With a track record of driving growth in complex global businesses, Kirk brings a focused, results-driven mindset. His deep experience in snacks, beverages, M&A and innovation—combined with public company CEO and board roles—makes him well suited to lead Hershey into the future.”
Haben continued, "We also want to thank Michele for her exceptional leadership and the industry-leading performance delivered across her tenure. Michele architected and championed Hershey's Leading Snacking Powerhouse vision, guiding the company through multiple phases of transformational growth. The impact of her courageous leadership, evolution of portfolio and capabilities, and authentic connection to people leave a legacy and a roadmap that positions Hershey well for the future."
Buck’s January announcement came after several executives departed Hershey and there were rumors the company was being pursued by Mondelez. While it’s a public company, effective control is held by the Milton Hershey School Trust, which reportedly (but not publicly/officially) turned down Mondelez’s offer.
About the Author
Dave Fusaro
Editor in Chief
Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.