Flowers Foods Executive and Leadership Team

May, 2026

Leadership Overview

Flowers Foods has 6 executives leading key functions including finance, operations, human resources, and regional bakery management.

Driven by a commitment to quality and innovation, Flowers Foods delivers a wide array of bakery products nationwide, impacting daily life through its diverse brand portfolio and extensive distribution network.

Leadership Roles at Flowers Foods

  • Chief Financial Officer - D. Scaglione
  • Chief Operating Officer & Senior VP - Gene Lord
  • President & Chief Operating Officer - Heeth Varnedoe
  • Plant President - Larry Brewer
  • President, Flowers Bakery of (SAN Antonio) - Joe Richter
  • Chief Human Resources Officer - Cindy Cox
  • D. Scaglione - Chief Financial Officer

    D. Scaglione, the Chief Financial Officer at Flowers Foods, directs the company's financial strategy and operations. This leadership role involves managing all aspects of financial planning, accounting, treasury, and investor relations, ensuring fiscal health and driving profitable growth across the organization. Scaglione oversees the allocation of capital, monitors financial performance against strategic objectives, and guides investment decisions to support the company's expansion and operational efficiency. By maintaining robust financial controls and reporting mechanisms, D. Scaglione ensures transparency and accountability, underpinning the company's ability to navigate market dynamics and deliver consistent shareholder value. The Chief Financial Officer's purview extends to risk management and the development of financial models that forecast future performance, crucial for Flowers Foods' extensive product lines including breads, buns, and snack items distributed across the United States.
    D. Scaglione

    Gene Lord - Chief Operating Officer & Senior VP

    Gene Lord, the Chief Operating Officer & Senior VP at Flowers Foods, orchestrates the company's extensive operational activities, encompassing production, supply chain, and distribution networks. This critical position involves optimizing bakery operations nationwide to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of fresh and frozen bakery products, including well-known brands like Wonder and Dave's Killer Bread. Lord's responsibilities include driving operational excellence, implementing best practices across all manufacturing facilities, and enhancing the effectiveness of the direct-store-delivery and warehouse delivery systems. By focusing on process improvements and resource management, Gene Lord ensures that Flowers Foods maintains high standards of product quality and operational efficiency. The Chief Operating Officer & Senior VP's strategic oversight is vital for managing the complexities of a large-scale food production and distribution enterprise, directly impacting market reach and customer satisfaction across diverse retail and foodservice channels.

    Heeth Varnedoe - President & Chief Operating Officer

    Heeth Varnedoe, the President & Chief Operating Officer at Flowers Foods, drives the company's overarching operational strategy and execution across its diverse bakery portfolio. This senior leadership position involves overseeing the performance of multiple business units, ensuring alignment with corporate goals for growth, efficiency, and product innovation in packaged bakery foods. Varnedoe's responsibilities encompass managing the complex network of bakeries and distribution channels that deliver products like Nature's Own and Tastykake to consumers nationwide. By focusing on operational excellence and strategic market positioning, Heeth Varnedoe guides initiatives aimed at enhancing production capabilities, optimizing supply chain logistics, and expanding market penetration. The President & Chief Operating Officer's leadership is fundamental to maintaining Flowers Foods' competitive edge in the dynamic food manufacturing industry, ensuring consistent quality and availability of its wide range of baked goods.

    Larry Brewer - Plant President

    Larry Brewer, the Plant President at Flowers Foods, directs the operational success and strategic direction of a specific bakery facility, ensuring efficient production and distribution of packaged bakery products. This role involves overseeing all aspects of plant management, including manufacturing processes, quality control, workforce management, and adherence to safety and regulatory standards. Brewer's focus is on optimizing production output for items such as fresh breads, buns, and snack items, ensuring they meet the high-quality standards expected by consumers and wholesale partners. By managing resources effectively and implementing operational improvements, Larry Brewer contributes directly to the company's overall supply chain efficiency and product availability. The Plant President's leadership is crucial for maintaining the operational integrity and productivity of individual facilities within Flowers Foods' extensive network, supporting the company's market presence across the United States.

    Joe Richter - President, Flowers Bakery of (SAN Antonio)

    Joe Richter, the President, Flowers Bakery of (SAN Antonio) at Flowers Foods, leads the strategic and operational management of the San Antonio bakery operations. This executive role is responsible for driving the performance of the bakery, ensuring the efficient production and distribution of a variety of packaged bakery food products, including breads, rolls, and snack items, to regional markets. Richter oversees all facets of the San Antonio facility, from manufacturing and quality assurance to sales and local distribution strategies, aligning operations with Flowers Foods' broader corporate objectives. By focusing on operational excellence and market responsiveness, Joe Richter ensures that the San Antonio bakery contributes effectively to the company's nationwide supply chain and brand presence. The President's leadership is vital for maintaining product quality, meeting customer demand, and fostering growth within the specific geographic region served by the San Antonio facility.

    Cindy Cox - Chief Human Resources Officer

    Cindy Cox, the Chief Human Resources Officer at Flowers Foods, leads all human capital strategies and initiatives to support the company's workforce of thousands. This executive function is paramount in attracting, developing, and retaining talent across manufacturing, sales, and corporate roles, ensuring a skilled and engaged employee base. Cox oversees talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, employee relations, organizational development, and HR compliance, aligning people strategies with Flowers Foods' business objectives. By fostering a positive and productive work environment, Cindy Cox contributes to operational continuity and innovation in the production of packaged bakery foods. The Chief Human Resources Officer's role is essential for managing the diverse workforce that powers the company's extensive operations, from bakeries to distribution centers, ensuring that human resources effectively support the company's mission to deliver quality products nationwide.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Flowers Foods Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Flowers Foods?
    Flowers Foods is led by D. Scaglione (Chief Financial Officer), along with executives such as Gene Lord (Chief Operating Officer & Senior VP) and Heeth Varnedoe (President & Chief Operating Officer).
    Who is part of Flowers Foods’s executive team?
    The executive team of Flowers Foods includes leaders such as D. Scaglione (Chief Financial Officer), Gene Lord (Chief Operating Officer & Senior VP), Heeth Varnedoe (President & Chief Operating Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Flowers Foods have?
    Flowers Foods has 6 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Flowers Foods’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Flowers Foods includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer & Senior VP, President & Chief Operating Officer, Plant President, President, Flowers Bakery of (SAN Antonio).