Flowers Foods eliminates chief growth officer role after three years

Flowers Foods Inc. (NYSE: FLO) announced that Terry Thomas will step down as chief growth officer and the position will be dissolved. The company created the role in 2023 to accelerate growth capabilities and build new competencies.

Thomas will remain in his position while the company transitions his responsibilities to other senior leaders. The company stated that the role fulfilled its purpose by advancing growth through an expanded innovation pipeline, strengthened customer relationships, and new category and revenue management capabilities.

Mark Courtney, chief brand officer and 43-year company veteran, will now report directly to CEO Ryals McMullian. Courtney has managed Flowers' brand portfolio since 2020, including Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Wonder Bread, Tastykake, and Mrs. Freshley's brands. He will assume additional responsibility for retail customer sales, innovation, and revenue management.

The organizational change accompanies recent restructuring within Flowers' operations division under president and chief operating officer Heeth Varnedoe. The company appointed David Roach as chief DSD operations officer and established a division structure for geographic profit and loss execution.

Flowers Foods, headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, reported 2025 sales of $5.3 billion. The company operates bakeries across the United States and produces packaged bakery foods under brands including Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Simple Mills, Wonder, and Tastykake.

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