LUFKIN, Texas -- At the company's biweekly meeting, Jerry Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Brookshire Brothers, has announced changes to its leadership team.
Brookshire Brothers has 72 supermarkets in predominantly rural areas and in the outskirts of the Houston metro area. With 6000 employee-owners in two states, it is also one of the largest retail outlets of Conoco fuel. It also operates 30 Polk Pick It Up convenience stores in the markets it serves.
Clay Oliver assumes the post of chief financial officer. Since joining the company in 2004, he has been the head of the Treasury Department and instrumental in all aspects of Brookshire Brothers' and Polk Oil's financial operations. A number of projects that he initiated have resulted in substantial savings for the company.
Of the leadership changes, Oliver said, "Having some relatively young people in key roles situates the company to navigate the new consumer we are facing."
Keith Williams takes on the position of vice president of petroleum and convenience store operations. Polk Oil's former CFO became part of the Brookshire Brothers Holding Inc. family in 2007 when the two companies merged. In addition to setting up practices that helped grow Polk Oil during his tenure with the family-owned company, Williams has developed strategies that have resulted in a unified and integrated accounting department.
Former accounting director Jessica Brown becomes vice president of accounting. Brown started with the company as a staff accountant in 1999, worked as a financial analyst and most recently integrated the Polk Oil and Brookshire Brothers accounting.
Jule Tatum Fenley will now serve the company as its general counsel. An expert in employment law, Fenley has been Brookshire Brothers' corporate counsel since 2007 and was previously of counsel for the law firm of Fenley & Bate LLP and served as in-house counsel for Temple Inland Forest Products Corp. and Rosewood Properties.
Also, the board moves Bryan Tyler from auditor to director of treasury. He brings a wealth of finance experience from the banking/lending industry to his position. Tyler was also an original member of the Eli Young Band.
Brookshire Brothers veteran and former store director Greg Huggins rounds out the promotions. He moves from auditor to director of internal audit.
"These promotions are indicative of a strong talent pool within our company. The difficult business climate demands we put the right people in the positions of our company that will increase our strength in a competitive situation."
He added, "Brookshire Brothers had a successful FY 2011 and is looking at expanding its company in 2012 as it integrates new systems that will streamline and strengthen it."
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