The top lawyer at Flowers Foods Inc. will soon retire after more than three decades at some iteration of the Thomasville, Georgia-based packaged baked goods company.

Chief legal counsel Stephen Avera will retire from his role at the end of the year, the company announced. Stephanie Tillman, Flowers' vice president, chief compliance officer and deputy general counsel, will succeed Avera, effective Jan. 1.

Through a company representative, Avera declined to comment on his retirement, given that it is still several months away. Tillman was out of the office on Wednesday and could not immediately be reached for comment about her upcoming promotion.