Michele G. Buck is President and Chief Executive Officer for The Hershey Company, the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionary. She is a proven leader with 30 years of consumer packaged goods experience and a demonstrated track record of building brands consumers love, developing high performing teams and creating sustainable businesses in a rapidly evolving economic and social marketplace.

As its first female CEO, Buck is responsible for Hershey’s global operations and commercial activities. She joined Hershey in April 2005 as Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer and has held a number of roles with increasing responsibility including Senior Vice President; Global Chief Growth Officer; President, North America; and most recently, EVP and Chief Operating Officer.

Prior to Hershey, Buck was an officer of Kraft Foods and, during her 17-year tenure at Kraft/Nabisco, she held senior positions in marketing and general management, working on numerous categories including yogurt, desserts and snacks, and various brands including Altoids, LifeSavers, Planters and Snackwell’s. She started her career at the Frito-Lay division of PepsiCo.Buck serves on the Board of Directors at The Hershey Company; and New York Life, a Fortune 100 financial services company.