Hershey Names Patricia A. Little as Financial Chief

By Josh Beckerman 

Hershey Co., which said in September that Chief Financial Officer David W. Tacka was retiring, on Thursday named Patricia A. Little to succeed him, effective March 16.

Ms. Little is chief financial officer of staffing company Kelly Services Inc. She joined Kelly Services in 2008 after 24 years at Ford Motor Co.

Meanwhile, Kelly Services said its corporate controller and chief accounting officer, Olivier Thirot, will be acting chief financial officer.

In January, Hershey said it would buy beef jerky companyKrave Pure Foods Inc. Hershey has had sluggish sales in certain U.S. stores and international markets, on top of rising costs for ingredients such as dairy and cocoa. The company projected 2015 earnings below Wall Street estimates in January and reaffirmed the outlook this month.

Hershey Co. said last week that it would transition to using simpler and fresher ingredients in products such as Hershey's Kisses, a move that comes after a similar announcement by rival Nestlé SA.

Write to Josh Beckerman at [e-mail]

Access Investor Kit for Ford Motor Co.

Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US3453708600

Access Investor Kit for The Hershey Co.

Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US4278661081

Access Investor Kit for Kelly Services, Inc.

Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US4881522084

Access Investor Kit for Kelly Services, Inc.

Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US4881523074

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires