8 directors named to Hershey board to replace those resigning

HARRISBURG, Pa. _ Eight members of the Hershey Co. board have resigned and are being replaced with eight new members picked by the charitable trust that controls the company, Hershey said Sunday.

Six directors -- Jon A. Boscia, Robert H. Campbell, Gary P. Coughlan, Harriet Edelman, Mackey J. McDonald and Marie J. Toulantis -- resigned at the request of the Hershey Trust, the company said.

Two other directors elected separately by shareholders, Bonnie G. Hill and Alfred F. Kelly Jr., also resigned although they had not been asked to do so by the trust, the company said. Their successors will be elected by shareholders at next year's annual meeting.

Kenneth L. Wolfe was named non-executive chairman as of the beginning of next year upon the departure of current Chairman and Chief Executive Richard H. Lenny, whose retirement at year's end was announced last month.

The other new directors are Charles A. Davis, Edward J. Kelly III, Arnold G. Langbo, James E. Nevels, Thomas J. Ridge, Charles B. Strauss and LeRoy S. Zimmerman.

Continuing as directors are David J. West, who will become CEO on Dec. 1, and Hershey Trust board member Robert F. Cavanaugh. Lenny will also remain on the board through the end of the year.

"Our goal is to recharge growth and take advantage of all opportunities we see in the marketplace," West said in a statement.