THOMASVILLE, GA — Flowers Foods has announced that D. Keith Wheeler, chief sales officer (CSO), will retire from the company after 35 years of service.
Wheeler will step down from his position on Aug. 31 and will serve as a senior advisor to Ryals McMullian, president and CEO of Flowers, until Dec. 31.
“I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Keith for his years of exemplary service to our company,” McMullian said. “His unique combination of leadership, communication, and collaboration — together with an in-depth understanding of our business — has had a tremendous impact on our company’s success. Flowers Foods and the teams Keith has led throughout his career have benefitted greatly from his extensive experience, industry knowledge, and friendship. We wish him the very best in his retirement.”
Wheeler has been with Flowers Foods since 1988 and has served as CSO since 2017. Prior to his c-suite title, he served as president of Flowers Bakeries, senior VP of the company’s West Coast region, regional controller and bakery president. Wheeler also led numerous large-scale projects that affected the company’s growth, including integrating several bakery and brand acquisitions and expanding distribution networks in key markets.
