Food City announces merchandising, marketing team changes

ABINGDON, Va. — Food City announced several changes and promotions to its marketing and center store operations team. The company said Ross Purdy, vice president of center store operations, is retiring from full-time service and assuming a role working on strategic initiatives for Food City. Kevin Stafford Kevin Stafford, who currently serves as vice president of marketing for Food City, has been promoted to fill Purdy's role as vice president of center store operations. The release states Stafford brings 30 years of knowledge and experience to the position. He has served in several roles with Food City, ranging from front-end supervisor to director of front-end operations and e-commerce. "Having begun his career with our company at an early age, Kevin has amassed a tremendous amount of knowledge of total store operations, as well as an exceptional rapport with other department leaders," Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer, said in the release. "He has been extremely instrumental in developing and managing numerous programs and initiatives vital to our success. I'm confident his experience and insight will enable us to continue to advance our center store operations for many years to come." Stafford will oversee all center store operations, including private label brand sales. He will also supervise the category management staff, space management, procurement, grocery supervisors and coordination of the company's consumer product good partners. He is a graduate of Sullivan East High School, with a bachelor's and master's degree in business administration from Milligan University. Misty Deskins Misty Deskins, Food City director of loyalty marketing, e-commerce and outside sales, has been promoted to the role of senior director of marketing. The release states Deskins will now oversee all aspects of marketing — including traditional and creative advertising, sports marketing, loyalty marketing and special events — as well as e-commerce and gift card/gift certificate outside sales. Deskins brings more than 22 years of retail knowledge and experience to her new position. She has served as recall coordinator, assistant store operations office manager, senior manager of loyalty marketing and director of loyalty marketing, e-commerce and Food City gift card/gift certificate outside sales. "Misty's extensive experience, including our management training program and heading up our loyalty marketing, e-commerce, and outside sales departments, in addition to the other roles she has held within the company have well prepared her to lead this dynamic team as we continue to engage our consumers, our teammates, and the communities we serve," Smith said in the release. As a graduate of The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Deskins received a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in psychology. She holds certifications from Cornell University in retail and brands, executive leadership and omnichannel leadership, as well as a Certified Collaborative Marketer designation through the Promotion Optimization Institute.