Rip Van appoints former Hershey executive Todd Tillemans as chief executive

Confectionery and snack maker Rip Van has appointed former Hershey US president Todd Tillemans as chief executive officer, Food Navigator reported on 7 October 2026. Related reports from Confectionery News, Nosh, Bloomberg, citybiz, and PR Newswire confirmed the appointment. Food Navigator said the company recently passed 100 million dollars in sales. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

According to Food Navigator, Mr Tillemans has more than three decades of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry. He previously held leadership positions at Unilever, General Mills, and Hershey, and served on the board of the National Confectioners Association. Bloomberg added that he also previously worked as an executive at Perdue. [1][4]

Food Navigator noted that during his career, Mr Tillemans helped lead and scale major confectionery brands, including Reese's and KitKat. Mr Tillemans stated that the momentum at Rip Van and its potential to disrupt the snacking category led him to join the business after spending decades with large consumer goods corporations. [1]

The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as a subsidiary of the Lancaster Caramel Company before transitioning to full chocolate manufacturing. The company is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and operates as one of the largest chocolate and baked goods manufacturers in the world. [7][8]