Kroger has appointed Joe Kelley, president of its King Soopers & City Markets division, as the new SVP of retail divisions. He succeeds Kenny Kimball, who has been in the role since April 2022.
Ron Sargent, chairman and interim CEO of Kroger, said in a statement, “Joe is a customer-centric leader who brings broad industry experience, with a strong track record of making stores great places to shop.”
Kelley brings decades of experience to the role, having previously served at Albertsons prior to joining Kroger in 2019 and has also held executive roles at Marsh Supermarkets and Price Chopper/Market 32. He has also served as New England president for Ahold Delhaize banner Stop & Shop.
Sargent added: “We are grateful for Kenny’s leadership as he stepped up to oversee multiple retail divisions in addition to Smith’s.”
“His commitment to our associates and customers is inspirational, and he will continue to play a key role in our enterprise, supporting strategic priorities and mentoring young leaders.”
Meanwhile, Chris Albi, group vice president of operations at King Soopers & City Markets, has been promoted to president of the division.
His appointment comes on the heels of a number of C-suite appointments, including the tapping up of Rudy DiPietro, former Ahold Delhaize executive, as president of its Dallas division.
Kroger also named David Kennerley, a PepsiCo veteran, as its new CFO following the departure of interim CFO Todd Foley.
The grocery retailer is actively seeking a successor for the role of CEO after Rodney McMullen’s sudden resignation earlier this year.
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