HERSHEY, PA. — The Hershey Co. named Michael Del Pozzo as president, United States confection, effective Sept. 16.

Del Pozzo succeeds Charles Raup, who is retiring after 15 years at Hershey to pursue other executive opportunities, according to the company.

Most recently president and general manager of Gatorade for PepsiCo, Inc., Del Pozzo will oversee The Hershey Co. brands Hershey’s, Reese’s and Jolly Rancher. The company also said he will join Hershey’s executive committee and work closely with two other business unit leaders, president of salty snacks Kristen Riggs and president of international Rohit Grover.

He was with PepsiCo for 23 years, taking on various leadership roles, including chief customer officer for the company’s Frito Lay North America unit. He joined the company in December 2001 as an account executive and eventually oversaw such brands as Propel, Muscle Milk and Evolve, as well.

“Mike’s deep consumer insights, his customer relationships, and his track record of delivering results and driving strategic change position him as the ideal leader to guide our US confection business through its next chapter,” said Michele Buck, chairman and chief executive officer of The Hershey Co. “He will be instrumental in building on our strengths and advancing our ‘leading snacking powerhouse’ vision. I want to thank Chuck for his many valuable contributions during his long tenure at Hershey. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Raup has been president of US confection at The Hershey Co. since December 2019. Previously, he was general manager of US confection and grocery. Raup joined Hershey in September 2009 as vice president, general manager of US sweets and refreshment and held several leadership roles through the years.

Prior to Hershey, Raup was senior director of marketing at Kraft Foods.