The Hershey Co. announced that Kevin Walling has been named senior vice president, chief people officer, effective June 1, 2011. Walling will serve as the chief architect for Hershey's human resources, talent retention, development and recruitment, and total rewards strategies. He will report to David J. West, president and chief executive officer, The Hershey Co.
"Kevin's leadership and global experience will play a crucial role in helping Hershey deliver on our strategic plan," West said in a prepared statement. "He brings to Hershey a focus and passion for creating a great place to work through employee development, global growth and a high-performance culture. Kevin has a proven record of helping create an environment that delivers exceptional results for employees, customers and shareholders."
Walling has 24 years of human resource experience. Most recently, he served as vice president and chief human resources officer of Kennametal Inc., a global technology and manufacturing company, located in Latrobe, Pa. In this position, he was responsible for human resource strategy and operations in over 60 countries. At Kennametal, Walling was instrumental in building a successful customer-centric, global organization that delivered record financial results. Walling's leadership also drove enhanced organizational performance and global improvements in talent and diversity.
Prior to joining Kennametal, Walling served as vice president of human resources - North America for Marconi Corporation plc. Previously, he held the position of vice president, human resources for Acclaim Entertainment, and served in several management positions with PepsiCo.
"I'm very excited to be joining Hershey, which is known for its great brands and an unmatched commitment to the community," Walling said. "I look forward to working with the human resources organization and Hershey's Global Strategy Team to further develop our talent and culture and accelerate long-term growth."
Walling currently serves on the State of Pennsylvania Workforce Invest Board and is an adjunct professor in the business school at Saint Vincent College. He holds a bachelor's degree in industrial labor relations from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, N.Y.
