Hershey Names New Top Lawyer as Ex-Legal Boss Joins WilmerHale

The Hershey Company has promoted James Turoff to senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary months after former top lawyer Damien Atkins left the company.

Turoff was previously the Hershey, Pa.-based company’s deputy general counsel and has held the role of acting general counsel since Atkins announced his departure in December 2020. Atkins officially left the company on Jan. 31, citing family illness, and recently joined WilmerHale as senior counsel.

As general counsel, Turoff will lead teams including government relations, corporate security, and global compliance and ethics, according to a Thursday statement.

Turoff takes on the top legal role as Hershey tackles new environmental and sustainability goals and the acquisition of low-sugar chocolates brand Lily’s Sweets. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher advised Hershey on the Lily’s Sweets deal, according to Turoff.

He said in an interview that a new and “significant component” of his role as general counsel is the coaching and development of the legal department as a whole.

“The pandemic has forced a rethinking in how legal departments get work done,” Turoff said, which includes leveraging technology, leaning into automation, and identifying work that can be done remotely.

Turoff joined Hershey in 2014. Before that, he worked for industrial services company Harsco Corp. and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company after starting his career as an associate with Jones Day.

“James brings depth of experience and has proven how to effectively work and lead across legal disciplines, balancing our enterprise ambitions with sound risk and opportunity management,” said Hershey chairman and CEO Michele Buck in a statement. “He has risen through the legal department here at Hershey and understands the complexities and opportunities within the business.”

Atkins, who also previously worked a general counsel for the Panasonic Corporation of North America, earned nearly $2.5 million in total compensation from Hershey in 2020, according to Hershey’s most recent proxy statement.

Hershey reported stronger sales for the first quarter of 2021 than the same period last year, according to the company’s Q1 earnings report. Its net income for the first quarter was nearly $396 million, up from $271 million the year before.

“As COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the globe, consumers are optimistic about the future and looking forward to spending more time with their family, friends and community,” Buck said in the April 29 earnings report. “As we have seen over our 127-year history, our portfolio of beloved brands plays an important role in these special moments of connection, comfort and happiness.”