In addition to these management changes, Raymond Brace, formerly Vice President, Manufacturing, Hershey Chocolate North America, became Vice President, Operations, effective January 1, 1997. He is responsible for the corporate-wide operations shared services of logistics, procurement, engineering, quality assurance and information technology integration. Effective January 1, 1997, Kenneth B. Kwiat succeeded Ray Brace as division Vice President, Manufacturing, and, effective January 1, 1998, he was named Vice President, Manufacturing, for the entire corporation. He is responsible for all worldwide chocolate, confectionery and pasta manufacturing plants.