Michele Buck - Revision history

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	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Michele Buck		\| name = Michele Buck
	\| image = Michele_Buck.jpg		\| image = Michele_Buck.jpg
	\| caption = Buck at Hershey headquarters, 2023		\| caption = Buck at Hershey headquarters, 2023
	\| birth_name = Michele G. Buck		\| birth_name = Michele G. Buck
	\| birth_date = {{birth year and age\|1960}}		\| birth_date = {{birth year and age\|1960}}
	\| birth_place = [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]], United States		\| birth_place = [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]], United States
	\| nationality = {{flag\|United States}} American		\| nationality = {{flag\|United States}} American
	\| citizenship = {{flag\|United States}}		\| citizenship = {{flag\|United States}}
	\| education = [[Shippensburg University]] (BBA, 1982)<br>[[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] (MBA, 1987)		\| education = [[Shippensburg University]] (BBA, 1982)<br>[[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] (MBA, 1987)
	\| occupation = Business executive		\| occupation = Business executive
	\| years_active = ~~1987–2025~~		\| years_active = 1987-2025
	\| employer = [[The Hershey Company]] (Special Advisor)		\| employer = [[The Hershey Company]] (Special Advisor)
	\| title = Chairman, President and CEO (~~2017–2025~~)		\| title = Chairman, President and CEO (2017-2025)
	\| predecessor = John Bilbrey		\| predecessor = John Bilbrey
	\| successor = Kirk Tanner		\| successor = Kirk Tanner
	\| boards = [[JPMorgan Chase]], [[New York Life Insurance Company\|New York Life]]		\| boards = [[JPMorgan Chase]], [[New York Life Insurance Company\|New York Life]]
	\| spouse = Name not publicly disclosed		\| spouse = Name not publicly disclosed
	\| net_worth = Estimated million (2025)		\| net_worth = Estimated million (2025)
	\| children = 3		\| children = 3
	\| residence = [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]], United States		\| residence = [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]], United States
	\| salary = $11.9 million (2024)		\| salary = $11.9 million (2024)
	\| website = {{URL\|thehersheycompany.com}}		\| website = {{URL\|thehersheycompany.com}}
	}}		}}

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	From age 10, Buck worked to earn her own money. She started with a paper route, added babysitting as a teenager, and later worked as a bank teller, waitress during college, and even sold Avon products door to door. These varied jobs gave her financial independence and experience working with people from all walks of life.		From age 10, Buck worked to earn her own money. She started with a paper route, added babysitting as a teenager, and later worked as a bank teller, waitress during college, and even sold Avon products door to door. These varied jobs gave her financial independence and experience working with people from all walks of life.

	Family outings often included drives to nearby Hershey, where Buck visited the Hershey chocolate factory as a ~~child—fostering~~ an early familiarity with the company she would eventually lead.		Family outings often included drives to nearby Hershey, where Buck visited the Hershey chocolate factory as a child - fostering an early familiarity with the company she would eventually lead.

	== Education ==		== Education ==

	Buck earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania]] in 1982. She later received her Master of Business Administration from the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] in 1987, selecting the program for its emphasis on teamwork, ethical leadership, and ~~holistic~~ problem-solving.		Buck earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania]] in 1982. She later received her Master of Business Administration from the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] in 1987, selecting the program for its emphasis on teamwork, ethical leadership, and complete problem-solving.

	== Career ==		== Career ==
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	She subsequently spent 17 years at [[Kraft Foods\|Kraft]]/[[Nabisco]], rising through numerous senior positions including Senior Vice President and General Manager for Kraft Confections.		She subsequently spent 17 years at [[Kraft Foods\|Kraft]]/[[Nabisco]], rising through numerous senior positions including Senior Vice President and General Manager for Kraft Confections.

	=== The Hershey Company (~~2005–2025~~) ===		=== The Hershey Company (2005-2025) ===

	Buck joined Hershey in April 2005 as Senior Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer. Over the next decade, she held a series of positions with increasing responsibility:		Buck joined Hershey in April 2005 as Senior Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer. Over the next decade, she held a series of positions with increasing responsibility:
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	Under Buck's leadership, Hershey pursued acquisitions to diversify beyond chocolate:		Under Buck's leadership, Hershey pursued acquisitions to diversify beyond chocolate:

	* Krave Pure Foods (2015) – Beef jerky brand, expanding into protein snacks		* Krave Pure Foods (2015) - Beef jerky brand, expanding into protein snacks
	* barkThins (2016) – Healthy chocolate snacking brand		* barkThins (2016) - Healthy chocolate snacking brand
	* Amplify Snack Brands (2017) – $1.6 billion acquisition, the largest deal in Hershey's history, adding SkinnyPop popcorn and other snacks		* Amplify Snack Brands (2017) - $1.6 billion acquisition, the largest deal in Hershey's history, adding SkinnyPop popcorn and other snacks

	These acquisitions reflected Buck's vision of transforming Hershey from a confectionery company into a broader "snacking powerhouse."		These acquisitions reflected Buck's vision of transforming Hershey from a confectionery company into a broader "snacking powerhouse."
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	== Board positions ==		== Board positions ==

	* [[JPMorgan Chase]] – Named to board of directors in December 2024, effective March 2025		* [[JPMorgan Chase]] - Named to board of directors in December 2024, effective March 2025
	* [[New York Life Insurance Company\|New York Life]] – Board of directors		* [[New York Life Insurance Company\|New York Life]] - Board of directors

	She has also served as Benefit Co-Chair for the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation.		She has also served as Benefit Co-Chair for the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation.
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	== Awards and recognition ==		== Awards and recognition ==

	* Fortune Most Powerful Women – Ranked 73rd (2023)		* Fortune Most Powerful Women - Ranked 73rd (2023)
	* Women Worth Watching Award (2005)		* Women Worth Watching Award (2005)
	* Corporate Citizenship Award – Committee for Economic Development (2018)		* Corporate Citizenship Award - Committee for Economic Development (2018)

	== See also ==		== See also ==

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	\| boards = [[JPMorgan Chase]], [[New York Life Insurance Company\|New York Life]]		\| boards = [[JPMorgan Chase]], [[New York Life Insurance Company\|New York Life]]
	\| spouse = Name not publicly disclosed		\| spouse = Name not publicly disclosed
			\| net_worth = Estimated million (2025)
	\| children = 3		\| children = 3
	\| residence = [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]], United States		\| residence = [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]], United States

Maintenance script: Created comprehensive article on Michele Buck, first female Chairman, President and CEO of The Hershey Company

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Created comprehensive article on Michele Buck, first female Chairman, President and CEO of The Hershey Company

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{{Infobox person
| name = Michele Buck
| image = Michele_Buck.jpg
| caption = Buck at Hershey headquarters, 2023
| birth_name = Michele G. Buck
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}}
| birth_place = [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]], United States
| nationality = {{flag|United States}} American
| citizenship = {{flag|United States}}
| education = [[Shippensburg University]] (BBA, 1982)<br>[[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] (MBA, 1987)
| occupation = Business executive
| years_active = 1987–2025
| employer = [[The Hershey Company]] (Special Advisor)
| title = Chairman, President and CEO (2017–2025)
| predecessor = John Bilbrey
| successor = Kirk Tanner
| boards = [[JPMorgan Chase]], [[New York Life Insurance Company|New York Life]]
| spouse = Name not publicly disclosed
| children = 3
| residence = [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]], United States
| salary = $11.9 million (2024)
| website = {{URL|thehersheycompany.com}}
}}

'''Michele G. Buck''' (born 1960 or 1961) is an American business executive who served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of [[The Hershey Company]], the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America, from March 2017 until August 2025. She was the first woman to hold all three titles at the company, which was founded in 1894 by [[Milton S. Hershey]].

Buck's tenure saw Hershey expand beyond its traditional chocolate business into the broader snacking category through acquisitions including Amplify Snack Brands. However, her final years were marked by challenges including historically high cocoa prices, changing consumer preferences toward healthier foods, and competitive pressure that culminated in an unwanted takeover approach from [[Mondelez International]].

== Early life ==

Michele Buck grew up in [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]], approximately 45 minutes southwest of Hershey in an agricultural community with a population of nearly 20,000 people. Her upbringing in this modest Central Pennsylvania household shaped her work ethic and connection to the company she would later lead.

Her parents embodied the value of hard work and education. Her mother grew up on a farm without indoor plumbing and financed her own college education, eventually becoming a teacher. Her father was the first in his family to complete high school and used military service to fund his higher education, working as an electrician while pursuing a master's degree in electrical engineering through night classes.

From age 10, Buck worked to earn her own money. She started with a paper route, added babysitting as a teenager, and later worked as a bank teller, waitress during college, and even sold Avon products door to door. These varied jobs gave her financial independence and experience working with people from all walks of life.

Family outings often included drives to nearby Hershey, where Buck visited the Hershey chocolate factory as a child—fostering an early familiarity with the company she would eventually lead.

== Education ==

Buck earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania]] in 1982. She later received her Master of Business Administration from the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] in 1987, selecting the program for its emphasis on teamwork, ethical leadership, and holistic problem-solving.

== Career ==

=== Early career at PepsiCo and Kraft/Nabisco ===

Buck began her career in 1987 as an Assistant Product Manager at the [[Frito-Lay]] division of [[PepsiCo]], where she worked on marketing for snack brands including Funyuns, Munchos, and Cheetos. The experience in snack foods would prove relevant decades later as Hershey expanded into the broader snacking category.

She subsequently spent 17 years at [[Kraft Foods|Kraft]]/[[Nabisco]], rising through numerous senior positions including Senior Vice President and General Manager for Kraft Confections.

=== The Hershey Company (2005–2025) ===

Buck joined Hershey in April 2005 as Senior Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer. Over the next decade, she held a series of positions with increasing responsibility:

* Senior Vice President, Global Chief Growth Officer
* President, North America
* Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

==== CEO appointment ====

In March 2017, Hershey announced that Buck would succeed John Bilbrey as President and CEO. The appointment made her the first woman to hold the top job at the iconic American chocolate company.

==== Strategic expansion ====

Under Buck's leadership, Hershey pursued acquisitions to diversify beyond chocolate:

* **Krave Pure Foods** (2015) – Beef jerky brand, expanding into protein snacks
* **barkThins** (2016) – Healthy chocolate snacking brand
* **Amplify Snack Brands** (2017) – $1.6 billion acquisition, the largest deal in Hershey's history, adding SkinnyPop popcorn and other snacks

These acquisitions reflected Buck's vision of transforming Hershey from a confectionery company into a broader "snacking powerhouse."

==== Chairman election ====

In October 2019, Buck was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hershey, consolidating leadership of the company.

==== Retirement ====

In January 2025, Buck announced plans to retire in June 2026. She was succeeded as CEO by Kirk Tanner in August 2025 and transitioned to the role of Special Advisor to the company.

== Personal life ==

Buck resides in Hershey, Pennsylvania with her family. She is married and has three children. Her husband's name has not been publicly disclosed.

Her decision to live in the same town as the company headquarters reflects her connection to Hershey's corporate culture and the close-knit community around the chocolate company.

== Compensation ==

In 2024, Buck's total compensation was approximately $11.9 million, including:

* Base salary: $1,400,000
* Annual bonus: $1,052,800
* Stock awards: $9,027,171
* Other compensation: $430,955

Hershey's disclosed CEO pay ratio indicated Buck earned 281 times the median employee's pay in 2024, down from previous years. Her 2023 compensation was approximately $15.7 million.

== Controversies and challenges ==

=== Cocoa price crisis ===

Buck's final years as CEO were significantly impacted by historically high cocoa prices, which squeezed margins across the chocolate industry. Unlike some competitors, Hershey had not diversified as extensively away from chocolate, leaving it more exposed to commodity price volatility.

=== Consumer headwinds ===

The company faced pressure from inflation-weary consumers who shifted toward healthier foods and value options. The emergence of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like [[Ozempic]] also raised long-term questions about demand for confectionery products.

In November 2024, Hershey lowered its forecasts for net sales and earnings per share, with Buck citing "a challenging consumer environment" and "historically high cocoa prices."

=== Mondelez takeover approach ===

In late 2024, [[Mondelez International]], the maker of Oreo cookies and Cadbury chocolate, made an unsolicited takeover approach for Hershey, as reported by Bloomberg. The attempt ultimately failed due to resistance from the Hershey Trust, the charitable foundation that controls voting power over the company.

The takeover attempt, coming as Hershey faced operational challenges, raised questions about the company's strategic direction.

=== Executive departures ===

In December 2024, Michael Del Pozzo, who led Hershey's candy business and was considered a potential internal successor to Buck, left after just three months on the job to return to PepsiCo. The departure complicated succession planning.

== Board positions ==

* **[[JPMorgan Chase]]** – Named to board of directors in December 2024, effective March 2025
* **[[New York Life Insurance Company|New York Life]]** – Board of directors

She has also served as Benefit Co-Chair for the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation.

== Awards and recognition ==

* Fortune Most Powerful Women – Ranked 73rd (2023)
* Women Worth Watching Award (2005)
* Corporate Citizenship Award – Committee for Economic Development (2018)

== See also ==
* [[The Hershey Company]]
* [[Milton S. Hershey]]
* [[Hershey Trust Company]]
* [[Chocolate industry]]

== References ==

{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="wikipedia">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Buck|title=Michele Buck|publisher=Wikipedia}}</ref>
<ref name="fooddive">{{cite web|url=https://www.fooddive.com/news/how-hershey-ceo-michele-buck-came-to-create-a-snacking-powerhouse/572347/|title=How Hershey CEO Michele Buck came to create a 'snacking powerhouse'|publisher=Food Dive}}</ref>
<ref name="hershey-official">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehersheycompany.com/en_us/home/about-us/the-company/leadership.html|title=Our Leadership|publisher=The Hershey Company}}</ref>
<ref name="jpmorgan">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpmorganchase.com/about/leadership/michele-g-buck|title=Michele G. Buck|publisher=JPMorgan Chase}}</ref>
<ref name="fortune-retirement">{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2025/07/09/hershey-ceo-kirk-tanner-salary-compensation-pay-vs-michele-buck/|title=How does Hershey's new CEO's salary compare to his predecessor?|publisher=Fortune|date=July 9, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="semafor">{{cite web|url=https://www.semafor.com/article/01/10/2025/hersheys-under-pressure-expected-to-replace-ceo|title=Hershey CEO Michele Buck to leave after poor earnings and an unwanted takeover approach from Mondelez|publisher=Semafor|date=January 10, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="aflcio">{{cite web|url=https://aflcio.org/paywatch/HSY|title=Ms. Buck|publisher=AFL-CIO Paywatch}}</ref>
<ref name="just-food">{{cite web|url=https://www.just-food.com/features/hershey-has-plenty-to-chew-over-as-ceo-prepares-exit/|title=Hershey has plenty to chew over as CEO prepares exit|publisher=Just Food}}</ref>
<ref name="succession">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehersheycompany.com/en_us/home/newsroom/press-release/2025-01-10-Hershey-Announces-CEO-Succession-Plan.html|title=Hershey Announces CEO Succession Plan|publisher=The Hershey Company|date=January 10, 2025}}</ref>
}}

[[Category:Chief executive officers]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American women chief executives]]
[[Category:Shippensburg University alumni]]
[[Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni]]
[[Category:People from Carlisle, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Hershey, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Hershey Company people]]
[[Category:American chief executives of food industry companies]]