Gary Hirshberg (born 1954)[1] is an American businessman and the former chief executive officer of Stonyfield Farm, an organic yogurt company, based in Londonderry.
[1] Early in his career, Hirshberg served as the Executive Director of The New Alchemy Institute, a research and education center focused on organic farming, aquaculture and renewable energy.
[4] In 1983, Hirshberg joined the Board of The Rural Education Center (TREC), a small organic farming school with seven cows in Wilton, NH, where Stonyfield was founded.
[5] Under Hirshberg's leadership, Stonyfield introduced marketing initiatives aimed at fostering customer loyalty while promoting sustainability, environmental awareness, and support for small, family farming.
[7][8] During Hirshberg's tenure, Stonyfield's compounded annual growth rate reached over 23% due to the company's focus on products and marketing that blended social, environmental, and financial goals.
[9] At that time, Hirshberg became Chairman and the Managing Director of Stonyfield Europe, launching organic brands in France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain.
[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.