A $7.5 billion Hershey charity for disadvantaged children has hired former chief of staff to Governor Ed Rendell and Ballard Spahr partner John Estey as its general counsel. The charity has elected to hire Estey as it confronts the results of a yearlong investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The Attorney General is said to be seeking changes to the charity, which would have to be approved by the state-chartered institution that manages Hershey’s assets, the board of the Hershey Trust Company.
As former chief of staff to Governor Rendell, Estey gives Democratic credentials to the board of the Hershey Trust Co., which is led by powerful Republican Leroy S. Zimmerman.
“John Estey is an extraordinarily competent individual. He would be a terrific person for any organization,” said Governor Rendell, Estey’s fellow partner at Ballard Spahr.