Board expansion: Flowers Foods welcomes Sterling Spainhour

Flowers Foods Inc. has named Sterling A. Spainhour to its board of directors effective Oct. 1, 2025, expanding its governance team as the packaged bakery company eyes strategic growth.

Spainhour, currently executive vice president and chief legal officer at Southern Company, will assume roles on Flowers Foods’ audit and finance committees.

“His deep expertise in M&A, legal matters and corporate governance will … strengthen our existing board composition,” said Flowers Foods Chairman and CEO Ryals McMullian.

Spainhour brings more than 30 years of experience navigating complex transactions and compliance oversight, having held senior roles at the law firm Jones Day and in leadership positions at Southern Company.