Gary P. Coughlan, retired Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Abbott Laboratories, Inc., has been elected to the Hershey Foods (NYSE: HSY) Board of Directors, effective October 3, 2001. In announcing the election, Richard H. Lenny, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Gary is an excellent addition to the Hershey Foods Board of Directors. His rich experience across multiple disciplines and with premiere consumer goods companies will prove invaluable as we move forward with Hershey’s growth plans.”

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In March 2001, Coughlan retired from Abbott Laboratories, Inc. where he was responsible for Treasury, Controllership, Tax, Audit, Corporate Strategy and Development, Investor Relations, Public Affairs, Information Technology, E-Commerce, Administration and Purchasing. Before joining Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Coughlan was employed by Kraft Foods in various financial positions, the last one being Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College of California, a master’s degree from UCLA and a master’s of business administration from Wayne State. Coughlan is active in several business and civic groups and serves on the boards of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and General Binding Corporation (GBC).

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

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Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

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