A. Ryals McMullian
Chairman and CEO
Flowers Foods
Ryals McMullian is chairman and chief executive officer of Flowers Foods. Elected as CEO in 2019 and chairman in 2023, McMullian drives strategies to increase shareholder value by focusing on brand growth, managing costs, expanding into product adjacencies (through smart mergers and acquisitions) and developing talent and leading capabilities.
During his tenure, McMullian has led initiatives to standardize and centralize corporate processes, with a focus on organizational realignment, indirect spend and supply-chain optimization, among others.
Prior to his current role, McMullian served as chief operating officer. Since joining the company in 2003, he has held a variety of other leadership positions including chief strategy officer, vice president of mergers and acquisitions and deputy general counsel and vice president and associate general counsel.
McMullian holds a master’s degree in business administration, a juris doctorate and a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from Florida State University. He is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and serves on the board of directors of the Consumer Brands Association and the board of trustees at Florida Tax Watch.
