Ms. Krier, who has been vice-president of communications since 2004, has been named vice-president of communications and corporate responsibility. She will continue to manage a number of communications functions, including crisis response, media relations, web sites, and corporate public relations efforts, but her primary duties will involve developing and implementing a corporate responsibility program for Flowers.
Ms. Krier joined Flowers in 1990 and was communications manager and director before being promoted to vice-president of communications in 2004. Prior to joining the company, she was a writer and editor for trade and consumer press in the Chicago area. She received a bachelor’s degree in English literature/writing from Rosary College of Dominican University in River Forest, Ill.
“Our company has had programs in place for many years that fall under the broad definition of corporate responsibility,” said Marta Jones Turner, executive vice-president of corporate relations. “Mary has been charged with shaping a more formal corporate responsibility program that will allow us to enhance our efforts in these areas and communicate them better to all our stakeholders. Mary is a talented communicator, skilled manager and a valued adviser to our team, and is well qualified for this task.”
Mr. Hancock has been named managing director of communications where he will direct the company’s internal communications programs and will provide day-to-day communications support to corporate departments and bakery and sales subsidiaries. He also will support investor relations and corporate responsibility communication efforts.
Prior to joining Flowers Mr. Hancock was senior director of marketing and communications at UC/Synergetic, a national engineering firm in Charlotte, N.C. Earlier, he held senior communications positions with Bank of America, also in Charlotte, and with FirstEnergy Corp. in Akron, Ohio. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science/communications from the University of Georgia in Athens.
“Keith is an experienced communicator with a broad background at several major publicly-held companies,” Ms. Turner said. “We look forward to the fresh perspective he will bring to our communications team.”