Hershey names Stacy Taffet as new Chief Growth Officer

HERSHEY, Pa. - The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY), a global leader in snacks with a market capitalization of $37.7 billion, announced the appointment of Stacy Taffet as Chief Growth Officer, a role she will assume on April 14, 2025. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains strong financial health with an overall score of "GREAT" and has consistently maintained dividend payments for 55 consecutive years. Taffet brings two decades of marketing and leadership experience, notably from her tenure at PepsiCo, to drive growth strategies for Hershey’s portfolio of snacks.

Taffet’s career includes a significant stint at PepsiCo, where she served as Senior Vice President of Beverage Portfolio Strategy and Marketing. Her experience in managing multi-billion-dollar brands and spearheading marketing initiatives is expected to bolster Hershey’s efforts to expand its presence in the snacking sector. With a robust gross profit margin of 47.4% and strong return on equity of 50%, the company shows promising fundamentals. InvestingPro analysis reveals 10+ additional insights about Hershey’s market position and growth potential.

Michele Buck, President and CEO of The Hershey Company, expressed confidence in Taffet’s ability to lead the company’s growth initiatives. Buck highlighted Taffet’s strategic capabilities in brand strategy, innovation, and commercial growth as key to accelerating Hershey’s ambitions to become a top snacking powerhouse.

In her new role, Taffet will oversee enterprise strategy and growth capabilities, including media and creative investments, marketing innovation, research and development, and brand reputation management. Her appointment underscores Hershey’s commitment to innovative demand creation and strategic brand development in a competitive global market.

Taffet, who has been recognized with awards such as Brand Innovators Top 100 Women in Brand Marketing and AdAge Women to Watch, also brings a strong community involvement background, serving on boards of non-profit organizations. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania.

Taffet expressed her honor in joining Hershey and her eagerness to contribute to the company’s legacy and future vision. She commended Hershey’s iconic brands and its commitment to community impact.

The Hershey Company, with over 20,000 employees worldwide, operates in approximately 70 countries and generated over $11.2 billion in annual revenues. The company is known for its chocolate and confectionery brands as well as popular salty snacks. With a P/E ratio of 17.15 and trading near its Fair Value according to InvestingPro calculations, Hershey demonstrates solid market positioning. The company has a longstanding history of corporate responsibility and community support, including the founding of the Milton Hershey School in 1909. Investors can access a comprehensive Pro Research Report, part of the analysis available for 1,400+ top US stocks, offering deep insights into Hershey’s market position and future prospects.

This announcement is based on a press release statement from The Hershey Company.

In other recent news, The Hershey Company has announced amendments to its bylaws to introduce a majority voting standard for director elections in uncontested scenarios, alongside a director resignation policy. This change reflects Hershey’s commitment to enhancing corporate governance practices. Additionally, Hershey has raised concerns about the ICE New York cocoa futures market, citing issues with liquidity and volatility that may not accurately reflect the global market conditions. Hershey’s Vice President for Procurement, Tricia Brannigan, has called on ICE to address the actions of speculators that might be causing market disruptions.

Meanwhile, CFRA analyst Arun Sundaram has raised the price target for Hershey shares to $192, maintaining a Hold rating. This adjustment is based on anticipated earnings per share (EPS) outcomes for 2026, with potential growth if cocoa costs decrease. Furthermore, Hershey has approved special retention awards for three top executives, granting them time-based restricted stock units as an incentive to retain key leadership. These recent developments underscore Hershey’s strategic moves in governance, market positioning, and leadership stability.

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