Publix VP Bechtel To Retire, Finger Named Successor

After 45 years, Publix VP of Customer Experience Bob Bechtel will retire March 31. With his retirement, Publix has promoted David Finger to VP of customer experience.

“Bob has spent his career focusing on customer service,” said CEO Kevin Murphy. 

“Through his leadership and efforts, he has helped our associates provide a premier shopping environment that has exceeded our customers’ expectations and helped create raving fans at Publix. We thank Bob for his many years of service to Publix and wish him the best in his retirement.”

Bechtel started his Publix career in 1978 as a front service clerk in Sarasota, Florida. He worked in several roles before being promoted to store manager in 1991, Lakeland Division district manager in 1995, regional director in 2008 and Miami Division VP in 2016. He was promoted to his current position in 2019. Bechtel received the 2005 President’s Award for perpetuating diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Finger began his Publix career in 1993 as a front service clerk in Mt. Dora, Florida. He worked in the customer service department before transferring to the corporate office in 2000. He worked in various roles before being promoted in 2015 to director of retail scheduling and forecasting. In 2017, he transferred to his current role as the director of omnichannel.

“Through every position David has held, he’s kept our customers top of mind, partnering with business areas across the company to find ways to improve our services and streamline our processes,” Murphy said. 

“I am excited to see how he will continue to find ways to raise the bar on Publix’s service levels and build on creating a premier shopping experience for our customers.”

About Publix

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 250,000 associates, operates 1,365 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. For 26 years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work.

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