Jump to content

Gary Hirshberg

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gary Hirshberg
Born1954
Manchester, New Hampshire, United States
EducationThe Derryfield School
Alma materHampshire College (BA)
Occupation(s)Chairman and former CEO of Stonyfield Farm
Political partyDemocratic
Children3

Gary Hirshberg (born 1954)[1] is an American businessman. He is the former chief executive officer of Stonyfield Farm, an organic yogurt company, based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. He joined the company just after its founding in 1983 and stepped down in 2011, but continues to serve as Chairman. He frequently speaks on topics including sustainability, organic agriculture and the profitability of green business.

In 2011, Hirshberg was mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate against New Hampshire's junior U.S. Senator John E. Sununu.[2][dead link‍]

Early life and education

[edit]

Hirshberg was born in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1954. Hirshberg was one of the first graduates of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1976. He was also one of the first graduates of The Derryfield School in Manchester, New Hampshire.[1]

Work history

[edit]

In his early career, Hirshberg served as the Executive Director of The New Alchemy Institute, a research and education center dedicated to organic farming, aquaculture and renewable energy.[3] He also held positions ranging from water pumping windmill specialist, to environmental educator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.[4]

In 1983, Hirshberg joined the Board of The Rural Education Center (TREC), a small, seven-cow organic farming school in Wilton, NH, where Stonyfield was born. He led Stonyfield from its infancy to $360 million in annual sales before stepping down as CEO at the end of 2011.[5]

Under Hirshberg, Stonyfield launched many marketing programs to increase customer loyalty to the brand and build public interest in sustainability, the environment, and small-family farming. In 1989, the Adopt-a-Cow Program (later renamed the Have-a-Cow Educational Program) allowed frequent customers to "adopt" their cows and learn about the value of small family farms.[6] Participants would receive a photo of their sponsored Stonyfield cow, updates about life on the farm and issues small farmers faced, and information about sustainable farming methods. Although originally envisioned as a one-cow-one-parent model, each cow had multiple sponsors just weeks after the program launched due to its instant popularity. Other Stonyfield programs include Profits for the Planet, by which Stonyfield donated 10% of their profits annually through grants to various environmentally focused non-profit organizations, and Salute Your Commute, a program designed to encourage consumers to use alternative modes of transportation to help reduce carbon emissions.[7][8]

During Hirshberg's tenure, Stonyfield's compounded annual growth rate reached over 23% due to consistently producing products and using marketing that blended the company's social, environmental, and financial missions. In 2001, Hirshberg arranged the sale of Stonyfield to Danone and remained CEO for an additional 10 years. In January 2012, he named former Ben & Jerry's CEO Walt Freese as his successor.[9] At that time, Hirshberg became Chairman and the Managing Director of Stonyfield Europe, launching organic brands in France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain. He resigned from his Danone responsibilities in March 2017 when the US Dept of Justice required Danone to divest its Stonyfield holdings. Hirshberg remains Stonyfield's Chair under the new ownership, Lactalis.

Activities

[edit]

Hirshberg serves on several corporate and non-profit boards including, Blue Apron, Inc. (NYSE- APRN), Forager Project (organic plant-based dairy alternatives), Late July Snacks (organic salty snacks), Orgain (organic protein drinks and powders), Peak Organic Brewing, Sweetgreen (national organic and natural fast-casual restaurant chain), Sweet Earth Natural Foods (organic and natural vegan and vegetarian entrees), and Unreal (producer of organic and non-GMO candy), as well as on the Advisory Board of Applegate (organic meats).[10] He was also the chairman and co-founder of O'Naturals, a chain of fast food restaurants.[11]

Hirshberg is Chairman and founding Partner of Just Label It, the national campaign to label genetically engineered foods. He is also the Chairman of Organic Voices, a consortium that seeks to eliminate consumer confusion about the benefits of organic foods. In March 2011, President Obama appointed Hirshberg to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, where he served from 2011 until February 2017.[12]

Publications

[edit]

Hirshberg is the author of the 2008 book Stirring it Up: How to Make Money and Save the World, a book about a socially-minded business that calls on individuals to realize their power to make a difference in the marketplace while doing business in ways that adhere to multiple bottom lines - one that takes into consideration not only finance but the environment and health as well.

Personal life

[edit]

Hirshberg is the husband of writer Meg Cadoux Hirshberg and a father of three adult children working in organic and sustainability ventures. He currently lives in Concord, New Hampshire.

Awards and recognition

[edit]

A New Hampshire native, Hirshberg has received twelve honorary doctorates and won several corporate and environmental leadership awards, including a 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award by the US EPA.[13] He was named a Yale Gordon Grand Fellow, one of "America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs" by Business Week, and one of the top ten "Most Inspiring People in Sustainable Food." by Fast Company.[14] He was featured in the successful 2008 documentary "Food, Inc."

Throughout his career, Hirshberg has received the following representative awards:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Teather, David (May 18, 2007). "King of organic yoghurt adds UK to milk round". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  2. ^ "With Lynch out, lengthy list eyes governor's seat | New Hampshire". UnionLeader.com. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  3. ^ "PAN in conversation Gary Hirshberg". Pesticide Action Network. November 4, 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Stonyfield Farm CE-Yo to Discuss How to Make Money and Save the World". Yale University. March 31, 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Stonyfield exec urges Bates grads to doubt 'experts'". Sun Journal. May 26, 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  6. ^ Moss Kanter, Rosabeth (October 12, 2010). "Adopt a Cow: Strategy as Improvisational Theater". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  7. ^ Makower, Joel (January 7, 2008). "Gary Hirshberg: Changing the Culture and 'Stirring It Up". Green Biz. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  8. ^ Delves Broughton, Philip (April 8, 2009). "Taking Care of the Customer". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Hirshberg steps down at Stonyfield, former Ben & Jerry's CEO to take over | New Hampshire". UnionLeader.com. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  10. ^ "Gary R. Hirshberg". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  11. ^ "What's next for fast food? McTofu?". Chicago Tribune. June 15, 2005.
  12. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 3/29/11". whitehouse.gov. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  13. ^ a b "2012 Environmental Merit Award Recipients". US EPA. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  14. ^ "Eat-onomics: The Ten Most Inspiring People in Sustainable Food". Fast Company. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  15. ^ Southwick, Katherine. "Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center Annual Review, 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  16. ^ "2015 Social Innovator of the Year". University of New Hampshire. 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  17. ^ "Award Honorees | OTA". www.ota.com. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  18. ^ "Hall of Legends 2012 honorees". New Hope Network. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gary_Hirshberg&oldid=1265337090"