The Hershey Co. has named Patricia Little as its new chief financial officer and senior v.p., effective mid-March.

Little will be responsible for the financial management, planning and operations for the company's $7.4-billion enterprise. She will report to Hershey's President and CEO John Bilbrey, and will oversee the company's global finance organization and be part of the company's global leadership team.

Patricia Little.

“We are very pleased to have Patricia joining our executive team,” says Bilbrey. “Patricia is a talented cfo with outstanding experience in leading both corporate and financial strategy domestically and internationally. She has extensive knowledge of emerging markets and her track record demonstrates an ability to help create value and growth.”

Little joins Hershey with 30 years of financial experience and leadership. She currently serves as executive v.p. and chief financial officer for Kelly Services, which she joined in 2008. Prior to that, Little had 24 years of experience with Ford Motor Co., maintaining leadership roles in corporate and operational finance.

Currently, she is also a board member and chair of the audit committee of McCormick & Co.

Little earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Drake University and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.

She will relocate to the Hershey, Pa. area with her husband.