Thomasville, Georgia-based baker Flowers Foods has named Gene D. Lord president and COO of Flowers Bakeries and Allen L. Shiver president and COO of Flowers Snack.
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The company also named Robert A. Hocutt, Joe G. Tashie, and David C. Scott regional VPs for Flowers Bakeries.
These promotions result from the company’s 31 May announcements that George E. Deese will move from president and COO of Flowers Bakeries to that position for Flowers Foods and that the company will restructure its two operating units into three operating groups – Flowers Bakeries, Mrs. Smith’s Bakeries, and Flowers Snack.
“One of our great strengths is the depth and talent of our management team,” said Deese. “Each of the individuals being promoted has been with our company at least 20 years. They all have played important roles in the success of Flowers Bakeries and Flowers Foods, and it is very gratifying to reward them with expanded responsibilities.”
Lord joined Flowers in 1966 as a route salesperson. He was promoted to district manager, sales manager, and VP before being named president of the Atlanta bakery in 1981. In 1987, Lord was promoted to regional VP for Flowers Bakeries, the position he held until his current appointment. Deese said: “Gene is one of the best talents in the baked foods business.”
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By GlobalDataShiver worked part-time for the company during his education. He joined Flowers as a route salesperson in 1978 after graduating from Georgia Southern University and was promoted to district manager, assistant product manager, and director of marketing for baked foods. In 1994, he was named executive VP of the Jacksonville bakery. One year later, he was named president of the Villa Rica bakery. In 1998, Shiver was named regional VP for Flowers Bakeries and, a short time later, was named executive VP, the position he held until being named president and COO for Flowers Snack. Deese said: “Allen’s broad base of operations and marketing experience within our company will be useful.”
Hocutt joined Flowers as a route salesperson in 1980. He was promoted to district manager, marketing/account representative, sales manager, and general sales manager in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Georgia. In 1987, Hocutt was named marketing and regional sales director for Flowers Baked Foods Group. In 1989, he was promoted to VP of the Atlanta bakery and in 1995 to president of that bakery. Since 1996, he has been president of Flowers’ Villa Rica bakery.
Scott joined Flowers as a route salesperson in 1982, before being promoted to district manager, sales manager, director of sales, and VP of sales, serving in Flowers’ Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, and Texas operations. He was promoted to bakery president in 1994. Prior to his current promotion to regional VP, he was president of the San Antonio bakery.
Tashie joined Flowers in 1978 as a route salesperson. He was promoted to district manager, sales manager, and VP, sales, first at Flowers’ St. Petersburg and Ft. Pierce bakeries, and later at the company’s Norfolk bakery. In 1991, he became president of the Norfolk bakery and in 1996, was named president of the company’s bakery in Tuscaloosa.
