OMAHA — Richard H. Lenny, a veteran executive in the consumer packaged goods industry, has been named to the ConAgra Foods Inc. board of directors. Mr. Lenny’s appointment is effective immediately and brings the number of ConAgra directors to 11.

Most recently, Mr. Lenny was chairman and chief executive officer of The Hershey Company, a position he held from 2001 to 2007.

Prior to joining Hershey, Mr. Lenny was group vice-president of Kraft Foods and president of Nabisco Biscuit and Snacks following Kraft’s acquisition of Nabisco in 2000. In this position, he was responsible for Kraft Foods’ North American biscuit, snack nuts and confection businesses. Mr. Lenny came to Nabisco in 1998 from The Pillsbury Company where he was president of Pillsbury, North America.

A graduate of the Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, Ill., with a master’s degree in business administration in marketing and finance, Mr. Lenny holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

"I am very pleased to welcome Rick to our board," said Steven Goldstone, chairman of ConAgra Foods. "Rick’s extensive experience with major consumer brands in the food industry will be a true asset to the company."