Kroger has appointed former Walmart executive Mark Ibbotson as the company’s executive vice president and chief store operations officer, effective from 14 September onwards.
Ibbotson brings decades of experience to the role, having worked in multiple leadership positions at major retailers during periods of transformation.
He has worked at UK supermarket retailer Sainsbury’s before joining Asda in 2004 and rose to leadership positions, including productivity director and retail director, before becoming chief operating officer.
Ibbotson joined department store chain Walmart in 2015 as the SVP of innovation with the goal of simplifying operations and introducing new technologies to improve customer experience.
During his time at the retailer, he expanded his role and became the EVP of central operations and realty.
Additionally, he managed a broad portfolio that consisted of store operations, real estate, asset protection, and key elements of Walmart’s digital transformation.
Ibbotson helped to oversee the rollout of the company’s e-commerce platform, which included pickup and delivery services that became an integral part of Walmart’s strategy.
Following his departure from the company in 2020, Ibbotson has worked as a strategic advisor to retail and technology companies and served as a senior advisor for McKinsey & Company for the last four years.
Greg Foran, CEO of Kroger said: “Mark has done this work at scale, and he has done it exceptionally well. He knows what it takes to simplify complex operations, bring out the best in frontline teams, and build the digital and physical capabilities that win with customers. That is what we need as we accelerate our momentum and build America’s Best Grocer.”
This comes after the grocery retailer recently made a c-suite appointment as it pushes for a stronger team in its next phase of growth.
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