The Hershey Co., Hershey, Pa., appoints Mary Beth West its new senior vice president and chief growth officer. West will join the company May 1. The company says Wests role will include overseeing its growth strategy, such as insights and analytics, marketing excellence functions, innovation, research and development, mergers and acquisitions and The Hershey Experience. She will report to Michele Buck, CEO.

"Mary Beth will be a great addition to our executive team," Buck says. "She is an accomplished business leader who is considered one of the best food executives and marketers in the industry. Her deep experience in growing some of the worlds best-known consumer brands and demonstrated ability to transform consumer engagement will be a tremendous asset to Hershey as we chart our growth agenda."

West brings 30 years of executive and marketing leadership to the company, having most recently served as executive vice president, chief customer & marketing officer at J.C. Penney Co., Inc. responsible for revitalizing the J.C. Penney brand. For more than 20 years, West led multi-billion dollar businesses and marketing at Mondelez International, Inc., previously Kraft Foods, including roles as its chief category & marketing officer and president of both its North American beverage and grocery businesses.

West has served on the board of directors for J.C. Penney and is currently on the board for Hasbro Inc. and the board of trustees for both The Wallace Foundation and Mercy Ships.