US retailer Publix Super Markets has promoted Gino DiGrazia to the position of vice president of finance.

DiGrazia, who joined Publix in 1992, takes on the position as well as his job in business analysis and reporting.

He will hold “many of the responsibilities” held by Kelly Underhill, Publix’s former director of tax and treasury, who left the retailer in March.

Earlier this month, Publix reported an increase in first-quarter profits after higher sales in the first three months of the year.

Net earnings were US$409.4m, compared to $398.2m a year earlier. Sales increased 4.2% to $7.1bn. Comparable-store sales were up 3.3%.