Hershey Names Leslie M. Turner Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
HERSHEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 21, 2012--
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced that Leslie M. Turner
has been named Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary,
effective July 9.
Leslie M. Turner (Photo: Business Wire)
In her new role, Turner will lead Hershey’s legal, government relations,
corporate security and corporate secretary functions. She will report to
John P. Bilbrey, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey
Company. She also will serve as a member of the company’s Global
Leadership Team.
“Leslie has significant experience working closely with corporate
governance matters and brings a broad business orientation and diverse
global background to this role,” said Bilbrey. “She has a proven record
partnering with leaders and business units to drive strong results, and
she is adept at aligning legal strategy with strategic objectives and
building collaborative, business-focused legal teams.”
Turner joins Hershey with 25 years of legal experience. She has served
as a senior legal executive providing strategic counsel, risk management
and policy advice to senior business leaders of Fortune 100 and 500
companies. Most recently, Turner served as Chief Legal Officer,
Coca-Cola North America (CCNA), a position she’s held since 2008. In
this position, she was responsible for leading the protection of
Coca-Cola’s brands, reputation, resources and people by promoting
governance in all company-related decision making. She also supported
the strategic direction of the North America Business Unit and its
growth initiatives by providing strategic advice, risk management and
counsel to CCNA’s president, leadership team and other cross-functional
business units. At Coca-Cola, Turner also led efforts to increase
capability and build a diverse talent pipeline within the legal function.
“I am excited to join Hershey and look forward to the opportunity to
support some of the world’s best-known and beloved brands,” Turner said.
“Hershey has a long record of ethical leadership and a strong company
reputation, reflecting more than a century of doing well by doing good
in the communities where the company operates its businesses. I look
forward to being part of the team that will continue to drive Hershey’s
long-term global success.”
Prior to Coca-Cola North America, Turner served as Associate General
Counsel for The Coca-Cola Company’s Bottling Investments Group. She
previously was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Akin, Gump,
Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP. Earlier in her career, she served in
significant roles in government, including the assistant secretary for
the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, U.S. Department of
the Interior and later as counselor to then-Secretary Bruce Babbitt and
director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of
the Interior.
Turner is a member of the Board of Directors, Georgia Appleseed; the
Board of Visitors, Georgetown University Law Center; and a Trustee,
Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. She
received a Bachelor of Science from New York University, a J.D. from
Georgetown University Law Center and a Master of Laws in Law and
Government from American University, Washington College of Law.
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 12,000 employees. With
revenues of more than $6 billion, Hershey offers confectionery products
under more than 25 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. Hershey also offers premium and
artisan chocolate products under such brands as Scharffen Berger
and Dagoba through the Artisan Confections Company, a wholly
owned subsidiary. The company is focused on growing its presence in key
international markets such as China and Mexico 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
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.
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Source: The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
Jeff Beckman, 717-534-8090
jbeckman@hersheys.com