Mary Beth West

Ms. West previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Growth Officer of The Hershey Company, one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world, from May 2017 to January 2020, during which time she drove Hershey’s growth and marketing strategies as well as communication, disruptive innovation, research and development, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to Hershey’s, Ms. West was at J.C. Penny Company, Inc., an American department store chain, after having served on its board from November 2005 to May 2015. From 2012 to 2014, Ms. West served as Executive Vice President & Chief Category and Marketing Officer of Mondelez International, Inc., the snack foods division spun off from Kraft Foods, Inc. in 2012. Ms. West began her career at Kraft Foods and served in various capacities over the course of 21 years and was named its Chief Marketing Officer in 2007. Ms. West was involved with some of the food industry’s most iconic brands such as Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Oreo, and Maxwell House coffee during her tenure at Kraft Foods.

Ms. West has served on the boards of Hasbro, Inc. a global play and entertainment company, since June 2016 and Lowe’s Inc., a home improvement retailer, since April 2021.

Ms. West’s proven track record of innovation and transformation across myriad facets of retail brings to our Board extensive food and retail industry experience. Ms. West provides our Board with expertise in marketing, brand building and strategic and operational planning for consumer-focused companies.