Hershey names Kirk Tanner as new CEO, effective August 18

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) announced Tuesday that its board of directors has appointed Kirk Tanner as president and chief executive officer, effective August 18, 2025. Tanner will succeed Michele Buck, who announced her intention to retire earlier this year.

Tanner currently serves as president and CEO of The Wendy's Company. He previously spent over three decades at PepsiCo, where he served as CEO of PepsiCo Beverages North America, overseeing a $28 billion business that included brands such as Pepsi, Gatorade, Mountain Dew, Pure Leaf and bubly. During his tenure at PepsiCo, he also held senior leadership positions including president of PepsiCo Global Foodservice and senior vice president of Frito-Lay North America's West Division.

At Wendy's, Tanner has led a strategy focused on core brand growth, innovation, operational excellence and accelerating new unit growth globally, according to the company statement.

"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," said Mary Kay Haben, lead independent director and chair of the CEO search committee.

Buck will work closely with Tanner in a senior advisory capacity to ensure his transition. Buck has served as CEO since 2017 and led Hershey's transformation into what the company calls a "Leading Snacking Powerhouse."

Hershey generates over $11.2 billion in annual revenues and operates in approximately 70 countries with more than 20,000 employees worldwide. The company's portfolio includes chocolate and confectionery brands such as Hershey's, Reese's, Kisses, Kit Kat and Jolly Rancher, as well as salty snacks including SkinnyPop and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels.

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