Client Speaker

Simon Viltz

Vice President and Chief Information Officer, The Hershey Company

Simon Viltz is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer for the Hershey Company. Simon’s key responsibilities include leadership and oversight for the following functions: IT Planning & Enterprise Architecture, ERP, Digital & IT Strategy, IT Security, Commercial IT, Corporate IT, International IT, M&A, Amplify, and IT Operations. In his prior role at Hershey Simon was the Vice President of Technology & Operations. Simon joined Hershey in July of 2016.

Simon has over 25 years of IT experience that spans consumer package goods manufacturing, and retail sectors. His last assignment was VP & CIO at Pactiv LLC, where Simon led IT operations, directed IT related mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and led multiple ERP conversions.

Simon has extensive experience with large corporate business and IT transformations enabling enterprises to improve business operations, increase efficiencies and financial performance. Simon’s experience and responsibilities included implementing new technologies and processes across Finance, HR, Marketing, Sales, and Supply Chain for the following companies: Pactiv LLC, OfficeMax/Office Depot, Sears Roebuck and Co., SC Johnson & Son Inc., and Mondelez International. At OfficeMax, Simon had multichannel go-to-market responsibilities that included supporting a top ten business in terms of eCommerce revenue.

Simon has had the privilege of participating in several complex mergers, acquisitions, and operational consolidations:

• Merger of General Foods, Oscar Meyer, and Kraft.
• Merger of Sears and Kmart.
• Acquisition of Dopaco at Pactiv, LLC.

Simon earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Iona College and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business. He was a participant of the SC Johnson Global Executive Excellence Program at INSEAD University, France. He is a certified project manager (PMP).

Simon and his wife, Kristin, live in Illinois. Simon commutes bi-weekly to The Hershey Company World Headquarters in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He spends his free time with his family and enjoys multiple recreational activities.