THOMASVILLE, GA — Flowers Foods announced that after 36 years with the baking company, CFO Steve Kinsey is set to retire at the end of the year.

“On behalf of everyone at Flowers, I would like to congratulate Steve on a well-deserved retirement,” said Ryals McMullian, chair and CEO of Flowers. “Steve has committed his career to Flowers and has been a valued partner to me and the rest of the leadership team. His legacy is one of integrity, respect and a relentless commitment to excellence. We are deeply grateful for his many years of leadership and unwavering dedication to the company.”

With Kinsey’s upcoming retirement, Flowers is working with an executive search firm to find its next CFO. To aid in a smooth leadership transition, Kinsey will serve in an advisory role for a short period of time post-retirement.

“It is bittersweet to be retiring from Flowers,” he said. “It has been an honor to work alongside an exceptionally talented and passionate team, helping steer the company as it has evolved through innovation, transformation, and acquisition. I wish everyone at Flowers the best, and, as I enter my next chapter, I am confident in the ability of our incredible team to continue to execute on our strategic priorities and drive shareholder value.”

This is the first change to the company’s c-suite this year. Last summer, Flowers appointed Meredith Wiktorowski as senior VP and chief customer officer.