A longtime in-house lawyer at one of the nation’s largest grocers has been promoted to vice president, general counsel and secretary, effective May 31.

Lakeland, Florida-based Publix has announced that Merriann Metz will succeed a retiring John Attaway. Metz joined Publix as a corporate attorney in 2006, serving most recently as assistant GC and assistant secretary since 2016, according to a statement announcing her promotion. Attaway, whose retirement is effective May 31, has been with Publix for 21 years and is credited with starting the company’s corporate legal department. He has been in his current top lawyer spot since 2005.