Publix Names New Officers

Publix Super Markets Inc. has promoted four executives in the areas of corporate purchasing and manufacturing, effective April 1.

In corporate purchasing, Dave Bornmann will be promoted to SVP. Bornmann began his career at Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix in 1983 as a computer programmer, and was promoted to strategic project manager in 1992, and business development manager for dairy, processed meats and DSD items in 1994. In 1998, he rose to his current position of VP grocery/nonfoods.

With Bornmann’s promotion, Pete Mowitt will become VP grocery/nonfoods. Mowitt started at the company as a part-time grocery clerk and rose to second assistant manager in 1984, assistant store manager in 1987, store manager in 1991, district manager in 1995 and director of merchandising in 1998. In 2000, he was promoted to his current role as business development director of grocery.

In manufacturing, Mike Smith will be promoted to SVP. Smith began at Publix as a rail dock associate and became shipping/receiving manager in 1988, senior purchasing analyst in 1991, manager of manufacturing supply purchasing in 1993, director of deli and bakery manufacturing in 2001, and director of fresh product manufacturing in 2004. In 2005, he attained his current position of VP manufacturing. The VP manufacturing, VP distribution and director manufacturing supply purchasing will report to him in his new role.

Succeeding Smith as VP manufacturing is Jeff Stephens, who joined Publix as a rail dock associate. He was promoted to lab technician in the dairy plant in 1983, quality control foreman in 1986, quality control manager in 1988, general manager of the dairy plant in 2000 and director of fresh product manufacturing in 2005. In 2010, he rose to his current role of director of manufacturing operations.

“Our ability to promote from within is one of the ways we are able to perpetuate our Publix culture,” said Ed Crenshaw, the grocer’s CEO.

Privately owned and operated by its 157,000 employees, Publix has 1,070 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.