12 - JOHN BILBREY, CEO, Hershey
From here we move to another candy giant, Hershey, and its CEO and president John Bilbrey.
Pathway to the top: Bilbrey started his career at Procter & Gamble as a sales representative and worked his way up the ranks for the next two decades before stints at Danone Waters of North America (he became president and CEO) and Mission Foods (where he was senior vice president). He joined Hershey in 2003, becoming senior vice president in 2005, president of North America in 2007, COO and Executive Vice President in 2010, and CEO in 2011.
Education: Bilbrey has a bachelor’s of science degree in psychology from Kansas State University.
