HERSHEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced the appointment of Mary Kay Haben to its Board of Directors. Her appointment as Director was effective August 9, 2013.
“Mary Kay is a seasoned leader who brings a great wealth of relevant food and confectionery experience to her role as a member of the Hershey board,” said James Nevels, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “She is an accomplished executive with extensive experience managing businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry and has an impressive track record in growing brands and developing new products.”
Haben, a highly respected business leader with demonstrated success in global management, retired in 2011 from a successful 33-year career managing consumer food and confectionery businesses. At the time of her retirement, she was President, North America of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, where she led the integration of the Wrigley gum and Mars confections businesses in the U.S. and Canada. Prior to Mars’ acquisition of Wrigley in 2008, she was Wrigley’s Group Vice President and Managing Director, North America. Before Wrigley, Haben was with Kraft Foods for 27 years, where she led several multi-billion dollar divisions, including the Cheese, Meals and Enhancers Divisions.
Haben received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Illinois and an MBA in marketing from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
She currently serves on the board of Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a full-service restaurant owner and operator, and food products producer, distributor and marketer, and the board of trustees for Equity Residential, a leading real estate investment trust engaged in the acquisition, development and management of multi-family properties. Haben previously served on the board of directors of apparel company Liz Claiborne from 2004 to 2007.
Haben is active in her community and served on the Board and Executive Committee of Junior Achievement of Chicago for 18 years. She currently is a Director for the Off the Street Club, the oldest boys and girls club in Chicago.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and approximately 14,000 employees. With revenues of more than $6.6 billion, Hershey offers confectionery products under more than 80 brand names, including such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Bliss, Hershey's Special Dark, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers. The company is focused on growing its presence in key international markets such as China, Mexico and Brazil while continuing to build its competitive advantage in the United States and Canada.
For more than 100 years, The Hershey Company has been a leader in making a positive difference in the communities where its employees live, work and do business. Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of the company’s global business strategy, which includes goals and priorities focused on fair and ethical business dealings, environmental stewardship, fostering a desirable workplace for employees, and positively impacting society and local communities. Milton Hershey School, established in 1909 by the company's founder and funded by a trust administered by Hershey Trust Company, provides a quality education, housing, and medical care at no cost to children in social and financial need. Students of Milton Hershey School are direct beneficiaries of The Hershey Company's success.
