---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-23-062582"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FLO"
cik: "0001128928"
company_name: "FLOWERS FOODS INC"
filed_at: "2023-03-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-18T09:19:15.253536+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Flowers Foods elects Ryals McMullian as next chairman, effective after 2023 annual meeting

## Summary
- George E. Deese retires as chairman at 2023 annual meeting, continues as director.
- A. Ryals McMullian (president & CEO) elected chairman, effective after 2023 annual meeting.
- Benjamin H. Griswold, IV retires from board after 18-year tenure; Thomas C. Chubb, III elected presiding director and nominating/corporate governance committee chair.
- Board size will decrease to 11 members following Griswold's retirement.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-23-062582
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FLO
- cik: 0001128928
- company_name: FLOWERS FOODS INC
- filed_at: 2023-03-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128928/000119312523062582/0001193125-23-062582-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128928/000119312523062582/d476095d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-062582
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-062582.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-062582.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Thomas C. Chubb, III was elected as Presiding Director and Chair of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee at FLOWERS FOODS INC.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Presiding Director and Chair of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee
  source text: the Board elected Thomas C. Chubb, III to serve as presiding director and chair of the nominating/corporate governance committee, effective immediately following the 2023 Annual Meeting.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128928/000119312523062582/0001193125-23-062582-index.htm
- Executive change
  Benjamin H. Griswold, IV departed as Director at FLOWERS FOODS INC.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Director
  source text: On March 6, 2023, Benjamin H. Griswold, IV notified the Board that he will retire from the Board, effective as of the 2023 Annual Meeting.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128928/000119312523062582/0001193125-23-062582-index.htm
- Executive change
  A. Ryals McMullian was elected as Chairman of the Board at FLOWERS FOODS INC.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: the Board elected A. Ryals McMullian, president and chief executive officer and a director of the Company, as the next chairman of the Board, effective immediately following the 2023 Annual Meeting.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128928/000119312523062582/0001193125-23-062582-index.htm
- Executive change
  George E. Deese changed role as Chairman of the Board at FLOWERS FOODS INC.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: On March 6, 2023, George E. Deese notified the board of directors (the “Board”) of Flowers Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) that he will retire from his role as chairman of the Board, effective as of the Company’s 2023 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2023 Annual Meeting”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1128928/000119312523062582/0001193125-23-062582-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.