Food City has promoted Paul Cox to SVP and CFO and Sara Baldwin to VP of finance following the retirement of longtime CFO Eddie Neely. Cox also will join the company’s board of directors.
“We would like to thank Eddie for his dedication and commitment, and the impact he has made on our company’s continued success during his tenure. We wish him all the best in this exciting new chapter of life,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and CEO.
Paul Cox
Cox brings more than 40 years of experience with the company to the role, having held positions including senior accountant, internal audit manager, assistant controller and assistant VP of finance before his most recent role as VP of finance.
He will oversee all finance-accounting and information technology services operations and personnel.
“His rich history with Food City uniquely qualifies him to build upon Eddie’s success and help our company continue to grow and prosper well into the future,” Smith said.
Cox is a member of Food City’s senior staff executive leadership team and serves on multiple committees within the organization and the grocery industry.
He is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and is a registered Certified Public Accountant in Tennessee.
Cox also is active in his community, having served multiple terms on the boards of directors for United Way of Southwest Virginia and Children’s Community Park Association.
Sara Baldwin
Baldwin steps into the VP of finance role with 15 years of service at Food City, having previously served as financial analyst and financial planning and analysis supervisor before becoming director of finance and planning.
She will oversee finance, treasury and payroll operations.
“Sara is a long-term Food City teammate, having worked in our stores while in college and joined our management team at an early age,” Smith said. “She has been instrumental in guiding our executive leadership team in financial analysis and decision making and will continue to be a great leader for our company.”
Baldwin graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2011 and received her MBA in 2014. She also completed a Graduate Accounting Certificate and the National Grocers Association (NGA) Cornell Executive Leadership Development Program in 2021.
She has CPA and Certified Management Accountant designations and is certified by FMI as a food retail leader.
Baldwin serves on the boards of directors for the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Highlands Educational Foundation.
Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores – Food City’s parent company – operates 164 retail outlets across southeastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, East Tennessee, North Georgia and Alabama.
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