Kroger, America’s largest supermarket operator by revenue, is undergoing its most significant executive turnover since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Company disclosures reveal at least five major senior leadership changes in just over a year, including the abrupt March 2025 resignation of long-time CEO Rodney McMullen, followed by two CFO transitions and the departure of its top marketing executive in December.
The latest shift came on April 15, when Kroger announced that Joe Kelley, head of its King Soopers and City Market division in Colorado, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions. Kelley replaces Kenny Kimball, who will now lead Smith’s Food and Drug division in Utah as president. Kimball had been among Kroger’s top dozen executives for the past three years.
The turnover comes amid mounting scrutiny and challenges for Kroger, which is still pushing forward with its proposed $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons. Critics argue the wave of executive exits could destabilise operations and cast doubt on the grocer’s ability to effectively integrate two of the country’s largest supermarket chains. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has so far resisted the merger over antitrust and consumer pricing concerns, while lawmakers and unions warn of possible store closures and job losses. With internal leadership in flux, industry analysts question whether Kroger can maintain the operational cohesion needed to pull off the historic deal.
Kroger’s headquarters in downtown Cincinnati is the centre of these sweeping changes. Interim CEO Ron Sargent, a former CEO of Staples and current Kroger board member, stepped into the leadership vacuum following McMullen’s sudden departure. The company disclosed that McMullen resigned following an investigation into personal conduct inconsistent with company ethics policies. The board hired an outside law firm 10 days before his resignation, suggesting the process was swift and unexpected.
Though the company stated the issue had no relation to financial performance or operations, the abrupt nature of the change left analysts and stakeholders seeking clarity. The resignation was not linked to other associates, nor to reporting practices, according to official filings.
Sargent, now leading the company on an interim basis, said Kroger would begin a national search for its next CEO, including both internal and external candidates. As of early May, no timeline has been announced for the appointment.
Timeline of Departures:
-
February 5, 2024: CFO Gary Millerchip resigned to join Costco Wholesale, where he now earns more than double his Kroger salary—$14.3 million compared to $5.7 million.
-
February 12, 2024: Kroger hired David Kennerley from PepsiCo Europe as its incoming CFO, succeeding interim appointee Todd Foley, who is set to retire.
-
November 22, 2023: Stuart Aitken, the company’s top marketing and communications executive, announced his departure. He has since become CEO of research giant Circana.
-
March 11, 2025: Kroger elevated Yael Cosset, its Chief Information Officer, to Executive VP and Chief Digital Officer, leading its newly formed eCommerce unit.
-
April 15, 2025: Joe Kelley promoted to SVP of Retail Divisions; Kenny Kimball reassigned to lead Smith’s.
Kroger employs more than 409,000 workers nationwide, including approximately 20,000 in Greater Cincinnati, where the company also operates 76 stores.
With its senior leadership in transition and a mega-merger still under federal review, 2025 could prove a defining year for the grocer. Whether Kroger emerges as a stronger, more digitally focused retail powerhouse—or buckles under regulatory and operational strain—remains to be seen.