Publix Names Kevin Murphy President
Publix Super Markets Inc. President and CEO Todd Jones has announced that Kevin Murphy, currently SVP of retail operations, will become the grocer's new president, along with several other promotions within the company, all effective Jan. 1, 2019.
Murphy began his career with the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer as a front service clerk in Margate, Fla., in 1984. After working in several roles, he was promoted to store manager in 1995, Jacksonville Division district manager in 2003, Atlanta Division regional manager in 2009, Miami Division VP in 2014, and his current role in 2016.
Other promotions include:
- Laurie Douglas, current SVP and CIO, will take on additional duties as chief digital officer. She joined the company in 2006 after serving as SVP and CIO of FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Center Inc. and, prior to that, VP of information and e-business technology at The Home Depot.
- Bob Bechtel, current Miami Division VP, will become VP of customer experience. He began his career with Publix as a front service clerk in Sarasota, Fla., in 1978, and moved into various other positions before being promoted to store manager in 1991, Lakeland Division district manager in 1995, Lakeland Division regional director in 2008, and his current role in 2016. Dale Myers, VP of retail business development, will retire after 44 years of service.
- John Goff, current Miami Division regional director, will become Miami Division VP, following Bechtel’s promotion. Goff began his career in 1991 as a front service clerk in Jacksonville. He worked in various positions before being promoted to store manager in 2005, Jacksonville Division district manager in 2010, and his current position in 2014.
- Mike Lester, director of warehousing, will become VP of distribution. He began his career in 1983 as a warehouse selector in Lakeland, and worked in various positions before being promoted to warehouse superintendent in 2000, distribution manager in 2008, and his current position in 2014. Lester enters the role upon Publix's announcement that current VP of Distribution Casey Suarez will retire after 40 years of service.
"We are thankful for the more than four decades that Dale and Casey have served our company,” Jones said. "We thank them for their contributions and wish them well in the next chapters of their lives. We are also excited to announce the promotions of Kevin, Laurie, Bob, John and Mike. For our company to have continued success, we need associates who are ready to take the next step in their Publix careers. These promotions continue to perpetuate our Publix culture of developing associates by preparing them for opportunity."
Publix Super Markets operates 1,201 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, and employs more than 195,000 associates. It is No. 5 on Progressive Grocer's 2018 Super 50 list of the top grocers in the United States.