Hershey vs Samsung: Founders, CEOs and History
Hershey was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey and is led by Kirk Tanner. Samsung was founded in 1969 by Lee Byung-chul and is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon.
Company facts
Founders
Hershey
Milton S. Hershey
The Hershey Company possesses arguably the most well-known, utopian founding story in American industrial history, rooted in the persistence of a man who failed notably before inventing the modern American chocolate industry.
Samsung
Lee Byung-chul
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938, trading dried fish, produce and noodles.
CEOs and their tenures
Hershey
- David J. West2007–2011
President and CEO
He left in 2011 and John Bilbrey succeeded him.
Source - John P. Bilbrey2011–2017
President and CEO
He retired in 2017 and Michele Buck succeeded him.
Source - Michele Buck2017–2025
Former Chief Executive Officer
Buck is universally credited with modernizing the historic chocolate company, transforming it into a diversified, resilient snacking empire capable of sustaining long-term growth.
Source - Kirk Tanner2025–present
Chief Executive Officer
While his tenure is just beginning Tanner is tasked with proving that Hershey's recent transition into a diversified 'snacking leader' can be integrated and scaled globally.
Source
Samsung
- Jong-Hee Han2022–2025
Vice Chairman and CEO
A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand. He died suddenly in March 2025 while in office.
Source - Jay Y. Lee2022–present
Executive Chairman
Grandson of the founder and son of Lee Kun-hee. He was convicted in the 2017 bribery case and pardoned in 2022, and became Executive Chairman in October 2022. In 2025 the Supreme Court upheld his acquittal in the separate merger and accounting fraud case.
Source - Jun Young-hyun2024–present
Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device Solutions
He implemented a complete overhaul of the semiconductor division's engineering processes, issuing a rare public apology in 2024 for the company's technological delays.
Source - Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh)2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device eXperience
As head of the MX (Mobile eXperience) division, he heavily integrated AI features (Galaxy AI) into the S-series flagship phones to combat Apple's dominance in the premium tier.
Source
Timeline: Hershey and Samsung side by side
1894Hershey
Founding of Hershey Chocolate Company
Milton S. Hershey founded the Hershey Chocolate Company as a subsidiary of the Lancaster Caramel Company, initially producing chocolate coatings for his caramels before recognizing the potential of solid milk chocolate.
1900Hershey
Sale of Lancaster Caramel Company
Milton S. Hershey sold the Lancaster Caramel Company for $1 million to focus entirely on the chocolate business, retaining the chocolate department and the rights to the milk chocolate formula he had developed.
1903Hershey
Construction of the Hershey Factory
Construction began on the Hershey Chocolate factory in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, designed to be the most advanced chocolate manufacturing facility in the world, utilizing continuous-flow production systems.
1907Hershey
Introduction of Hershey's Kisses
The company launched the Hershey's Kiss, a small, teardrop-shaped piece of chocolate that was individually wrapped in a thin strip of foil, becoming one of the most well-known and recognizable confectionery products in history.
1928Hershey
Introduction of Mr. Goodbar
Hershey launched Mr. Goodbar, a milk chocolate bar packed with roasted peanuts, which became a commercial success and established the company's dominance in the combination chocolate bar category.
1938Hershey
Introduction of Krackel
The company introduced Krackel, a milk chocolate bar with crisped rice, expanding its portfolio of everyday chocolate bars and using its manufacturing expertise in rice processing.
1938Samsung
Samsung Group begins
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a trading company before later generations expanded the group into electronics and industry.
1963Hershey
Introduction of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
While Reese's was founded earlier, Hershey acquired the brand in 1963, a move that would eventually create the company's largest and most profitable franchise, generating over $3 billion in annual retail sales today.
1969Samsung
Samsung Electronics established
Samsung Electronics Industry Co. Ltd. was established as the group entered electronics manufacturing.
1977Samsung
Korea Semiconductor acquired
Samsung acquired Korea Semiconductor, a key step toward memory and component manufacturing leadership.
1993Samsung
New Management initiative
Lee Kun-hee launched the New Management push to raise quality, design, and global competitiveness.
1996Hershey
Acquisition of Leaf Inc.
Hershey acquired Leaf Inc., adding well-known brands like Jolly Rancher, Whoppers, and Milk Duds to its portfolio, significantly expanding its presence in the non-chocolate confectionery market.
2017Hershey
Michele Buck Appointed CEO
Michele Buck was appointed CEO, initiating a rigorous strategic transformation plan focused on portfolio diversification, manufacturing modernization, and supply chain resilience, which drove the company's success in navigating record cocoa inflation.
2017Samsung
Harman acquisition closes
Samsung completed the Harman acquisition, expanding into connected car systems and premium audio.
2021Hershey
Acquisition of Dot's Homestyle Pretzels
Hershey acquired Dot's Homestyle Pretzels for about $1.2 billion and its manufacturing partner Pretzels Inc. in December 2021, expanding its salty snack segment.
2022Samsung
Jong-Hee Han becomes CEO
Jong-Hee Han became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2022. A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand.
2024Hershey
Record Net Income Before Cocoa Shock
Hershey reported $11.20 billion in 2024 net sales and record net income of $2.22 billion, before record cocoa costs hit 2025 results. In December 2024, reports said Mondelez had again approached Hershey about a deal; no transaction followed.
2024Samsung
Jun Young-hyun becomes CEO
Jun Young-hyun became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2024. Head of the semiconductor (Device Solutions) division and memory business; sole CEO for part of 2025 after Han Jong-hee's death, then co-CEO with TM Roh from November 2025.
2025Hershey
Kirk Tanner Becomes CEO
Former Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner succeeded Michele Buck as President and CEO on August 18, 2025. Hershey closed the LesserEvil acquisition in November 2025 and reported $11.69 billion in 2025 net sales.
2025Samsung
TM Roh joins Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO
Samsung named TM Roh Head of Device eXperience and CEO, joining Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO.
2025Samsung
Annual revenue reaches ~$237B (KRW 333.6T)
Samsung Electronics reported ~$237 billion (KRW 333.6 trillion) in 2025 annual revenue and ~$31 billion (KRW 43.6 trillion) in operating profit.
2025Samsung
Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh) becomes CEO
Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh) became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2025. Longtime head of the mobile business.
Acquisitions
Hershey
- LesserEvil2025$750M
- Dot's Homestyle Pretzels2021$1.2B
- Lily's Sweets2021$425M
- Amplify Snack Brands2018$1.6B
Samsung
- FlaktGroup2025$1.7B
- Xealth2025Undisclosed
- Harman International2017$8B
- SmartThings2014$200M
Questions about Hershey vs Samsung
Who is the CEO of The Hershey Company and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
The Hershey Company is led by Kirk Tanner and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Hershey Company founded vs Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 — 75 years before Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1969. The Hershey Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd..
How many employees does The Hershey Company have compared to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
The Hershey Company employs approximately 19,595 people, while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. employs approximately 259,149. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 259,149 employees, compared to The Hershey Company's 19,595. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Hershey Company and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. headquartered?
The Hershey Company is headquartered in United States and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is headquartered in South Korea. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded The Hershey Company and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded by Lee Byung-chul.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Hershey Company or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
The Hershey Company has been operating for approximately 132 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has been in operation for around 57 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Hershey vs Samsung overview