Flowers Foods Inc. (NYSE:FLO) announced that Terry Thomas will step down from his role as chief growth officer, with the company also confirming that the position will be discontinued. The role was introduced in 2023 as part of an effort to strengthen the company’s growth strategy and develop new capabilities.
Thomas will remain with the company during a transition period while his duties are reassigned to other members of the senior leadership team. According to Flowers Foods, the position achieved its intended objectives by supporting growth through a broader innovation pipeline, stronger relationships with customers, and the development of new category and revenue management capabilities.
As part of the leadership changes, Mark Courtney, the company’s chief brand officer and a 43-year veteran at Flowers Foods, will now report directly to Chief Executive Officer Ryals McMullian. Courtney has overseen the company’s brand portfolio since 2020, including Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Wonder Bread, Tastykake, and Mrs. Freshley’s. In his expanded role, he will also take responsibility for retail customer sales, innovation initiatives, and revenue management.
The adjustment comes alongside broader structural changes within the company’s operations division led by President and Chief Operating Officer Heeth Varnedoe. Flowers Foods recently named David Roach as chief DSD operations officer and introduced a new divisional structure focused on regional profit-and-loss management.
Flowers Foods, based in Thomasville, Georgia, reported sales of $5.3 billion in 2025. The company operates bakeries throughout the United States and produces packaged baked goods under brands such as Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Simple Mills, Wonder, and Tastykake.