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SF-Based Del Monte Foods Getting New CEO From Hershey Co.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- After leading The Hershey Co. to three years of strong performances, CEO David West is leaving to take the top job at the smaller Del Monte Foods Co., a surprise move that sent the candy maker's shares plummeting Wednesday.

Del Monte Foods, the San Francisco-based food processor, said that West will become its CEO on Aug. 15 and will join the company's board in June. Del Monte was bought by private equity firms for $4 billion in a deal that closed in March.

Hershey Chief Operating Officer John P. Bilbrey was named interim president and CEO Wednesday. In Wednesday trading, Hershey's share price slipped $1.60, or 2.8 percent, to close at $55.48.

Standard & Poor's said Wednesday it was "surprised" by West's departure and reiterated its "Sell" opinion on the stock, although analyst Tom Graves said he was impressed by Hershey's first-quarter performance.

Janney Capital Markets analyst Jonathan Feeney reiterated a "Buy" opinion on the stock and said in a note to clients that West's departure was "clearly unexpected, both internally and externally," but added that it likely has more to do with attractive terms offered by Del Monte than Hershey's outlook.

"We are surprised and unsettled to see Mr. West leave, given his enormous success in transforming a shrinking company into one of the best growth stories in food," Feeney wrote. "Nonetheless, with his team still in place and led by Mr. Bilbrey, who was his co-pilot during the turnaround, we are confident that Hershey's current virtual cycle of investment and superior returns can be sustained for shareholders."

Soft-spoken and 47, West was promoted to Hershey's top job in 2007 after two years of skidding sales at the Hershey, Pa.-based company. Under West, Hershey's sales grew from $5.13 billion in 2008 to $5.67 billion in 2010, as he pumped huge sums into advertising and shifted the company's focus back to its core products, such as Hershey's Kisses and Reese's, and away from seasonal spinoffs.

"After 10 years with the company, it's time to take on the next challenge," West said in a statement released by Hershey.

Through the recession, Hershey reported rising profits in 11 of its last 12 quarters. Analysts said consumers traded down from expensive, gourmet chocolate to Hershey's cheaper mainstream treats and credited West with controlling costs—he even set in motion plans to transform the original, but unwieldy, chocolate factory built by founder Milton Hershey into just administrative offices.

In the meantime, pressure grew on Hershey to compete for market share as two of its competitors, Mars Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc., grew through acquisitions.

At Del Monte, West will replace interim CEO Neil Harrison. It reported sales of $3.74 billion in 2010. Del Monte's brands include Contadina and College Inn foods, as well as Kibbles 'n Bits, Meow Mix and Milk-Bone pet foods.

Bilbrey, who became COO in November, has been with Hershey since 2003, first as president of Hershey International. Before joining Hershey, he worked at Mission Foods, Group Danone's North American water business and Procter & Gamble.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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