Next aisle over for retiring Publix general counsel; replacement on board

Publix’s first general counsel John Attaway announced that he’ll retire on May 31, after 21 years of service. Attaway started with the Lakeland, Florida, supermarket chain in 1997 as corporate counsel and became general counsel and secretary in 2000. He was promoted to his current title in 2005.

Upon Attaway’s retirement, Merriann Metz, 43, will become GC. Metz graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 2002. Before joining Publix, she was an attorney with the law firm Lowndes Drosdick in Orlando. Metz was hired by Publix in 2006 as an attorney in the corporate legal department and was promoted to senior attorney in 2010. She was promoted to assistant general counsel in 2011 and to her current position of assistant general counsel in 2016.

“John started our corporate legal department and has been instrumental in developing our legal team,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones in a statement. “In addition, throughout his career he has taken on many additional responsibilities. I’m thankful for John’s contributions to the growth and success of Publix and wish him much happiness in the next chapter of his life.”

“Merriann has a collaborative and thoughtful approach to everything she works on,” said Jones. “I’m excited to see her take this next step in her career.”