Boyd to retire from Ben E. Keith

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — A longtime sales executive is retiring from Ben E. Keith Foods and two others are being promoted to two new leadership positions in sales and in strategic planning, officials announced Wednesday.

Ron Boyd, the firm’s senior vice president of sales & marketing, is retiring after 36 years of service in February, and David Werner, the firm’s

marketing vice president, is replacing Boyd as the firm’s new Vice President of Independent Sales and Marketing.

Werner, a 29-year veteran at the firm, will oversee sales for the company’s 500 plus district sales representatives in 14 states, drawing on his experience to lead them in serving the needs of both independent and regional operators.

Meanwhile, Brian Lynch, currently vice president of Sales Development & Training, is being promoted to the newly created position of Vice President of Corporate Strategy.

In that role, Lynch will lead Ben E. Keith’s strategic planning process as it explores new ways to make money through key initiatives like partnership

integration and technology implementations.

Lynch joined Ben E. Keith in 2002, holding leadership positions in sales, sales analytics, sales management and purchasing.

Mike Sweet, president of Ben E. Keith Foods, said in a news release that he expects both men will do well in their new roles.

Boyd, a U.S. Army veteran, worked for Ben E. Keith since 1981 in numerous capacities, including as general manager of the Dallas and Fort Worth divisions, director of groceries, and vice president of Division Management.

Company officials said his retirement is effective Feb. 1.

Ben E. Keith operates a distribution center in Oklahoma City.