Hershey Makes Organizational Changes
To accelerate areas it has identified as strategic growth opportunities, The Hershey Co. has made a few changes in leadership.
It's International Commercial Group (ICG), led by J.P. Bilbrey, senior vice president, president ICG, will focus on key strategic growth areas in Asia, Latin America and India. Also, Hershey will integration its Canadian operations into a newly established North American Commercial Group (NACG), led by Chris Baldwin, senior vice president, president NACG.
“J.P. and his team are advancing Hershey’s global strategies," said Richard H. Lenny, Hershey's chairman, president and CEO. "Focus on Latin America, including Mexico, and Asia is providing opportunities to build our core brands, as well as to develop new platforms that meet unique consumer and customer needs. The organizational changes announced today provide the appropriate resources in these critical areas. At the same time, we’re leveraging Hershey’s North American marketing and sales leadership to unite our U.S. and Canadian marketing, sales and customer marketing areas, while building capabilities to capitalize on the very unique consumer and customer trends within each country.”
To support the changes, Dan Vucovich, vice president, chief customer officer, is being named vice president, global chief customer officer. In this role, Vucovich will be responsible for leading Hershey’s selling organizations across the globe, reporting to both Baldwin and Bilbrey. Vucovich will develop breakthrough solutions that drive profitable growth for key global customers.
Tim Dunigan, currently vice president, Wal*Mart global, has been named vice president, sales, International Commercial Group, and will continue to report to Vucovich. “Tim’s outstanding track record of success with Wal-Mart as well as experience with Hershey’s selling organization will play a significant role as we continue to drive growth with global customers in addition to key customers in Asia and Latin America,” Bilbrey said.
Bryan Crittenden, vice president, Latin America, has been named vice president, business development, International Commercial Group, and will continue to report to Bilbrey. “Bryan has an immense knowledge of global markets,” Bilbrey said. “In this new position, Bryan will be responsible for seeking out profitable growth opportunities in Hershey’s key international markets.”
Effective immediately, the U.S. Commercial Group will become the North American Commercial Group to recognize the combination of marketing, customer marketing and sales in the U.S. and Canada. Bruce Brown, currently vice president, general manager, Canada, will become vice president, business process optimization, reporting to Baldwin.
“Bruce led the Canadian organization and business over the past four years delivering strong top-line and bottom line growth,” Bilbrey said. “Bruce was also instrumental in leading the Canadian organization through a period of dynamic change. His long history with the company and in leadership roles in Canada enabled him to deliver these results and perfectly prepare him for his new role.”
Eric Lent, currently vice president, refreshment, snacks and confectionery, U.S. Commercial Group, has been named vice president, general manager, Canada. Lent will be responsible for delivering the sales, market share and profitability goals for Hershey Canada and will report to Baldwin. Jacobs has been named vice president, customer marketing, North American Commercial Group, and Bert Alfonso has been named vice president, finance and planning, North American Commercial Group.
It's International Commercial Group (ICG), led by J.P. Bilbrey, senior vice president, president ICG, will focus on key strategic growth areas in Asia, Latin America and India. Also, Hershey will integration its Canadian operations into a newly established North American Commercial Group (NACG), led by Chris Baldwin, senior vice president, president NACG.
“J.P. and his team are advancing Hershey’s global strategies," said Richard H. Lenny, Hershey's chairman, president and CEO. "Focus on Latin America, including Mexico, and Asia is providing opportunities to build our core brands, as well as to develop new platforms that meet unique consumer and customer needs. The organizational changes announced today provide the appropriate resources in these critical areas. At the same time, we’re leveraging Hershey’s North American marketing and sales leadership to unite our U.S. and Canadian marketing, sales and customer marketing areas, while building capabilities to capitalize on the very unique consumer and customer trends within each country.”
To support the changes, Dan Vucovich, vice president, chief customer officer, is being named vice president, global chief customer officer. In this role, Vucovich will be responsible for leading Hershey’s selling organizations across the globe, reporting to both Baldwin and Bilbrey. Vucovich will develop breakthrough solutions that drive profitable growth for key global customers.
Tim Dunigan, currently vice president, Wal*Mart global, has been named vice president, sales, International Commercial Group, and will continue to report to Vucovich. “Tim’s outstanding track record of success with Wal-Mart as well as experience with Hershey’s selling organization will play a significant role as we continue to drive growth with global customers in addition to key customers in Asia and Latin America,” Bilbrey said.
Bryan Crittenden, vice president, Latin America, has been named vice president, business development, International Commercial Group, and will continue to report to Bilbrey. “Bryan has an immense knowledge of global markets,” Bilbrey said. “In this new position, Bryan will be responsible for seeking out profitable growth opportunities in Hershey’s key international markets.”
Effective immediately, the U.S. Commercial Group will become the North American Commercial Group to recognize the combination of marketing, customer marketing and sales in the U.S. and Canada. Bruce Brown, currently vice president, general manager, Canada, will become vice president, business process optimization, reporting to Baldwin.
“Bruce led the Canadian organization and business over the past four years delivering strong top-line and bottom line growth,” Bilbrey said. “Bruce was also instrumental in leading the Canadian organization through a period of dynamic change. His long history with the company and in leadership roles in Canada enabled him to deliver these results and perfectly prepare him for his new role.”
Eric Lent, currently vice president, refreshment, snacks and confectionery, U.S. Commercial Group, has been named vice president, general manager, Canada. Lent will be responsible for delivering the sales, market share and profitability goals for Hershey Canada and will report to Baldwin. Jacobs has been named vice president, customer marketing, North American Commercial Group, and Bert Alfonso has been named vice president, finance and planning, North American Commercial Group.