Gary Hirshberg

Education

Gary Hirshberg was one of the first graduates of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. He was also one of the first graduates of The Derryfield School in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Work history

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. He also held positions ranging from water pumping windmill specialist, to environmental educator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In 1983, Hirshberg joined the Board of The Rural Education Center (TREC), a small, seven-cow organic farming school in Wilton, NH from which Stonyfield was born. Hirshberg led Stonyfield from its infancy to $360 million in annual sales when he stepped down as CE-Yo at the end of 2011.

Under Hirshberg's reign, Stonyfield launched many innovative marketing programs aimed not only at growing customer loyalty to the brand but also in building public interest in sustainability, the environment, and small family farming. In 1989, the Adopt-a-Cow Program (which was later renamed to the Have-a-Cow Educational Program), allowed frequent customers to "adopt" their own cow, learning about the value of small family farms in the process. Participants would receive a photo of their sponsored Stonyfield cow, updates about life on the farm and issues small farmers faced, as well as information about sustainable farming methods. Although originally envisioned as a one-cow-one-parent model, each cow ended up with 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; Salute Your Commute, a program designed encouraged consumers to use alternative modes of transportation to help reduce carbon emissions; and Put a Lid On It, a campaign that turned Stonyfield's yogurt lids into mini-billboards used to educate consumers about the dangers of global warming and the impact their personal choices could have on the environment.

During Hirshberg's tenure, Stonyfield enjoyed a compounded annual growth rate of over 23% by consistently producing superior products and using innovative marketing that blended the company’s social, environmental, and financial missions. Hirshberg arranged the sale of Stonyfield to Danone in 2001, and stayed on as CEO for an additional 10 years, naming former Ben & Jerry's CEO Walt Freese as his successor in January of 2012. At that time, Hirshberg moved into the role of Chairman and also became 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 Danone was required by the US Dept of Justice to divest its Stonyfield holdings. Hirshberg remains Stonyfield’s Chair under the new ownership, Lactalis. 

Hirshberg is the author of the 2008 book, Stirring it Up: How to Make Money and Save the World, a book about 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 a multiple bottom line - one that takes into consideration not only finance, but the environment and health as well.

In terms of non-corporate activities, Hirshberg is Chairman and a 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. In March, 2011, President Obama appointed Hirshberg to serve on the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, where he served from 2011 until February 2017.

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 and natural meats). He was also the chairman and co-founder of O’Naturals, a chain of natural fast food restaurants.

A New Hampshire native, Hirshberg has received twelve honorary doctorates and won numerous awards for corporate and environmental leadership including a 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award by the US EPA. 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.  He was featured in the successful 2008 documentary "Food, Inc."  

Publications

Personal life

Hirshberg was born in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1954, attended The Derryfield School for high school and graduated from Hampshire College in 1976. He currently lives with his wife, Meg Hirshberg in Concord, New Hampshire. They have three adult children, one of whom is married.

Awards and Recognition

Hirshberg has received honorary doctorates for his work from the following institutions:

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