Publix has announced a leadership shakeup, unveiling changes to four different executive positions for the chain as of May 1st of this year.
“We are excited to announce the promotion of four company leaders,” CEO Ed Crenshaw said, according to a company release. Crenshaw is part of the changes Publix will soon be seeing, having announced last week that he will soon retire. “In order for our company to have continued growth and success, we need associates who are ready to take the next step in their careers. David, Kevin, Sam, and Bob are dynamic leaders focused on leading successful and diverse teams.”
David Phillips, the company’s current CFO and 32-year Publix veteran, will be promoted to Executive Vice President and CFO when the changes go into effect later this year. Phillips began his retail career more than three decades ago in auditing, moving up through different financial roles from his original role as Internal Auditor. He has held the position of CFO for 17 years.
Miami Division President Kevin Murphy actually joined the team the same year as Phillips, starting as a Front Service Clerk. He will now be promoted to Senior Vice President of Retail Operations, a far cry from his first promotion to Store Manager in 1995. He has held his current role with Publix for two years now.
Bob Bechtel, currently the retailer’s Regional Director for the Lakeland Division, will now move up to Vice President of the Miami Division in Murphy’s place. He, too, began his stead with Publix as a Front Service Clerk, joining in 1978 and moving up through the ranks to his current role, which he has held since 2008.
Last, but not least, the company is moving up Jacksonville Division Regional Director Sam Pero to newly retiring Lakeland Division Vice President Tom McLaughlin’s position. McLaughlin will officially retire April 30th of this year.
“Tom has helped perpetuate our culture by investing in our associates,” President Todd Jones said on McLaughlin’s 47 years of service. “He has been able to identify talented associates and provide the appropriate training in order to prepare them for opportunity. He’s always led with a servant’s heart. We thank him for his strategic contributions to our project teams, most notably our new store design team.”
Pero moves up into the new role with 39 years of Publix experience.
Creshaw added that he was confident the promotion of these four company leaders would continue developing the Publix culture.
