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CHICAGO — Richard Lenny has been named chairman of the board at Information Resources Inc. (IRI).
The consumer packaged goods (CPG), health and retail market research firm said Tuesday that Lenny succeeds Lawrence Benjamin, who will remain a member of the board and a senior adviser.
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Richard Lenny |
Lenny previously served as chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Hershey Co., where he developed a value-enhancing strategy that delivered superior marketplace and financial performance, according to IRI.
"Rick brings to IRI an impressive background, including more than three decades of experience in the consumer packaged goods arena, and we are thrilled to have him picking up the torch and helping us drive our ‘Growth Delivered’ strategy forward," IRI president and CEO Andrew Appel said in a statement. "His experience with the client side of our business and resounding track record of leadership success will provide unique perspective to help us accomplish our most critical objectives and exceed our clients’ expectations."
Before Hershey, Lenny was president of Nabisco Biscuit Co. When Nabisco was acquired by Kraft in 2000, he was named group vice president of Kraft Foods and president of Nabisco Biscuit and Snacks. Lenny joined Nabisco in 1998 from the Pillsbury Co., where he was president of Pillsbury North America. Prior to that, he spent 18 years at Kraft Foods Inc., where he held various senior marketing and sales positions.
"For more than 30 years, IRI has enabled its clients to win in the marketplace by developing and delivering superior insights and truly innovative capabilities," Lenny stated. "I look forward to working with Andrew and his team to accelerate IRI’s success and further solidify its role as a growth catalyst within the CPG industry."
Lenny also currently serves on the boards of McDonald’s Corp., Discover Financial Services and ConAgra Foods Inc. In addition, he previously served as chairman of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and chaired its executive committee. In 2008, he received GMA’s Hall of Achievement award.
Appel added, "I am deeply appreciative to Larry for his personal guidance, tremendous contributions to IRI and his continued involvement on the board and support of the business. During the past two years, Larry has made a significant impact on our business through his tireless energy and passionate focus on our retailer and manufacturer clients."
