Publix Announces Two Retirements, One Leadership Promotion

Florida-based grocery chain Publix has announced the retirement of two executives and the elevation of another.

First covered by Store Brands’ sister publication Progressive Grocer, VP of Finance Gino DiGrazia will retire at the end of this year. DiGrazia spent the past decade in that role. He started at Publix as a manager of business analysis in 1992 and was promoted in 1997 to director, then to VP and controller in 2002. Beginning in 2023, his duties will be shared by Chris Mesa and Doug Stalbaum, both of whom were promoted earlier this year to serve as VP and controller.

“Gino’s dedication to helping our retail and support business units understand their operations has made us a better company,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones. “He’s helped our managers make more informed decisions for three decades while sharing his knowledge and passion for finance with those around him.”

Publix’s VP of Benefit Administration and Assistant Secretary Linda Kane will also soon retire, planning to leave the company on Feb. 28, 2023. She is a longtime Publix leader, starting with the company 28 years ago as a treasury analyst and working her way up to roles including manager of business analysis and director of benefits administration.

To replace Kane, Publix has promoted Monica Allman to VP of Benefits Administration. Allman, who joined Publix as a benefits administration project manager in 2001, has served as manager of stock programs and, most recently, as director of stock programs.

“Monica is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in stockholder services and associate benefit plans,” said Jones. “Her ability to collaborate across teams, along with her passion for modernizing and improving systems, will be instrumental as she continues to enhance the experience for our associates and stockholders. We are excited to see the contributions she’ll continue to make in her new role.”

Publix operates nearly 1,300 supermarkets in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, with plans to expand to Kentucky next year.