No. 21 | The Hershey Company

Michele Buck
President & CEO“One thing I value most in a team is diverse thinking because it brings innovative ideas that lead to the best answers. To be successful making moments of goodness for our diverse consumer base, we continue to develop an equally diverse workforce to lead the company.”

Alicia Petross
VP, Talent Acquisition + Diversity & Inclusion“Our diverse workforce and inclusive climate are key to our ability to make more moments of goodness for our employees, consumers, customers, and communities.”
From DiversityInc
- Hershey’s responsibility standards are strengthened by its world-class minority, women, veteran, LGBTQ+ people, disadvantaged and disabled-owned suppliers.
- Hershey put a fist in the fight against COVID-19. The company committed $1 million to acquire, install and staff a new manufacturing line dedicated to the production of face masks.
- Hershey’s chief marketing officer Jill Baskin was inducted into the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors in January 2020 for her work establishing initiatives to increase D&I in the company.
In The News
- The Hershey Company Commits $1 Million To Production Of Disposable Facemasks
- Women of Hershey: Andrea Steele Discusses Putting Brand-Community Experience at the Heart of Digital Commerce
- The Hershey Company CMO Jill Baskin Named to Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors
Other DiversityInc Lists
- No. 8 Veterans
- LGBT Employees
- No. 12 Executive Diversity Councils
- No. 16 Mentoring
- No. 6 Philanthropy
- No. 15 Sponsorship
From The Company
Few companies on the planet can claim the success of being an iconic company for 125 years. Even fewer can say that they are in the business of making moments of goodness for those who love their products. At the core of our 125-year success is the talent, energy, and commitment our diverse workforce brings to work every day.
Hershey’s diverse approach to hiring makes a difference. In 2019, the company was a global leader on gender representation, with women occupying many of the top positions in the company — including CEO and Chairman of the Board, and Chief Growth Officer — and throughout the company at 50%.
Across Hershey’s total U.S. salaried workforce, U.S. women earn 0.99 cents on the dollar compared to men. Additionally, 42% of its Board of Directors are women. Hershey works to ensure a level playing field for all employees regardless of their backgrounds. Its eight employee-led business resource groups (BRGs), which include Abilities First, African American, Asian, GenH (Generations), Latino, Prism (LGBTQ), Veteran’s and Women’s, play an important role in helping to attract and retain people from different communities, providing marketing insights and connecting people within the company.
Company Facts
HSY (NYSE)
U.S. Headquarters: Hershey, PA
Global Employees: 16,000
2019 DiversityInc Top 50 Ranking: No. 25