The Hershey Co. has announced that Rob Gehring will join the company as global chief sales officer, effective Jan. 18, 2016.

Gehring joins Hershey from Coca-Cola North America where he served as president, Walmart Global Team since 2011.

“Rob is a seasoned sales leader who has deep experience in consumer packaged goods, strong customer relationships and a proven track record,” says Michele Buck, president North America of The Hershey Co. “We are excited to have Rob join Hershey to lead our global sales team and strengthen our sales organization around the world.”

Gehring is a sales veteran with more than 20 years of experience with large category-leading brands in key retail channels.

During his tenure at Coca-Cola, he held a variety of roles including leading the field sales organization in Canada across all trade classes and leading sales for the Western United States, where he focused on customer and channel performance.

Gehring’s experience also includes product commercialization and pricing architecture. Various programs led by Gehring have received recognition and won marketing awards.

He holds a B.S. in accountancy from Arizona State University.

The Hershey Co., headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for its chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. Hershey has approximately 22,000 employees around the world and more than 80 brands that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside.

Building on its core business, Hershey is expanding its portfolio to include a broader range of delicious snacks. The company remains focused on growing its presence in key international markets while continuing to extend its competitive advantage in North America.