Kirk Tanner to Become New CEO of Hershey Starting August 2025

Hershey appoints Kirk Tanner as its new CEO effective August 18, 2025, replacing Michele Buck. Tanner brings extensive leadership experience from PepsiCo and Wendy’s.

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) has officially announced the appointment of Kirk Tanner as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective August 18, 2025. He will succeed Michele Buck, who announced her retirement earlier this year. Buck will work closely with Tanner in a senior advisory role to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Tanner is a seasoned executive in the food and beverage sector, with over 30 years of experience at PepsiCo, where he held several high-level leadership roles. His most recent role was CEO of PepsiCo Beverages North America, overseeing a $28 billion business that included iconic and growth brands such as Pepsi, Gatorade, Mountain Dew, Pure Leaf, and bubly. Tanner drove business growth and profitability through brand development, innovation, strong customer partnerships, and execution excellence, while aligning with evolving consumer trends.

Currently, Tanner serves as the President and CEO of The Wendy’s Company, where he has led a strategic focus on brand growth, innovation, operational excellence, and global expansion.

“Kirk is a proven, high-impact leader in the food and beverage industry, with an exceptional blend of consumer passion, commercial insight, and operational scale,” said Mary Kay Haben, Lead Independent Director and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. “His experience in snacks, beverages, M&A, and innovation—along with his public company CEO and board credentials—makes him uniquely qualified to lead Hershey into the future.”

Haben also expressed appreciation for Michele Buck’s outstanding leadership and the transformative growth Hershey experienced under her tenure.

Tanner shared his enthusiasm about joining Hershey: “I’m truly honored to be chosen to lead a company I’ve long admired. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on three key pillars: delighting consumers, building strong customer partnerships, and investing in people. These pillars will continue to guide our strategic decisions and drive the growth of Hershey’s iconic brands.”

Michele Buck added: “I’m thrilled to see Kirk step into this role and look forward to supporting him during this transition. Leading Hershey and working with such a remarkable team to transform the company into a multi-category snacking leader has been the greatest honor of my career.”