Hershey Taps PepsiCo Executive Heather Hoytink as U.S. President
Event summary
- Heather Hoytink, former PepsiCo executive, appointed President, U.S. of The Hershey Company effective July 8, 2026.
- Hoytink brings over 20 years of sales and operations experience, most recently as SVP and Chief Commercial Officer at PepsiCo.
- She will oversee end-to-end accountability for Hershey's U.S. commercial business across confection, salty, and protein snacking categories.
- Hoytink is tasked with advancing the ONE Hershey commercial model to unify approaches and drive growth in various channels.
The big picture
Hershey's appointment of Heather Hoytink underscores a strategic shift towards leveraging cross-industry expertise to drive growth. With over $11.7 billion in annual revenues, the company aims to strengthen its position in the snacking industry through a unified commercial approach. This move reflects broader trends in consumer goods where companies are increasingly valuing leaders with diverse operational backgrounds to navigate complex market dynamics.
What we're watching
- Cross-Industry Synergies
- How Hoytink's experience at PepsiCo will influence Hershey's commercial strategies and customer partnerships.
- Channel Diversification
- The pace at which Hershey can expand its presence in away-from-home, omnichannel, and digital channels under Hoytink's leadership.
- Operational Execution
- Whether Hoytink can sustain the topline growth and margin expansion she achieved in previous roles at Hershey.