HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 14 -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced that Andrea Thomas has been named Vice President, Global Chocolate. Thomas, who joins Hershey from Frito-Lay, Inc. where she was Vice President, Innovation, will be responsible for global platform innovation and branding for Hershey's chocolate portfolio. She will report to Thomas K. Hernquist, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Growth Officer.
"We see immense global opportunities for our core chocolate brands and for launching new confectionery platforms to meet emerging consumer needs," said Hernquist. "Andrea is an excellent choice to lead this effort. She has a truly outstanding record of driving growth through innovation and her commitment to winning in competitive markets will be invaluable."
In commenting on her new appointment, Thomas said, "Hershey's powerful brands provide tremendous possibilities for growth. In Asia and the Americas, Hershey is synonymous with quality chocolate, and I'm excited by the opportunity to unlock the potential of these brands and to launch new platforms to drive global growth. I have a great deal of respect for The Hershey Company, its brands and its record of innovation, and I look forward to joining its leadership team."
Thomas will lead the development of global brand growth strategies for Hershey, define global positioning for the company's chocolate franchises such as Hershey's, Kisses and Reese's, and create and launch new confectionery platforms. She will work closely with Hershey's global research and development and integrated business insights teams to deliver new benefits that meet the needs of consumers in key international markets.
As Vice President, Innovation at Frito-Lay, Inc., Thomas was responsible for managing Frito-Lay's salty snack innovation pipeline. Previously, she had served as Vice President, Retail Marketing and Promotions, and led marketing for the Fritos and Tostitos brands. Prior to joining Frito-Lay, Thomas was Director, New Product Marketing, at Pizza Hut, Inc.
Thomas holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a master of business administration from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
The Hershey Company formed its Global Growth and Innovation Group in 2005 to focus on building global brands, developing benefit-driven growth platforms for the short and long term, and strengthening marketing capabilities worldwide.