Rodney McMullen, the former chairman and CEO of Kroger, has exited his board position at VF Corporation, according to a regulatory filing.
VF wrote in the filing: “The offer of resignation was required by the company’s Corporate Governance Principles due to a substantial change in Mr. McMullen’s principal occupation.”
McMullen has served as a member of the company’s board of directors since early 2016. Following his exit, VF has reduced the size of its board to 12 directors, the company said.
This departure comes after his sudden resignation from Kroger following a private investigation into his personal conduct, which breached company policy.
McMullen joined Kroger in 1978 and has served as chairman and CEO since 2015.
An official statement from the retailer clarified that McMullen’s conduct was unrelated to Kroger’s business operations or financial performance, and that no Kroger associates were involved.
In the wake of his resignation, lead director Ronald Sargent has been appointed as chairman and interim CEO.
The company is actively searching for a permanent successor to fill the CEO role.
In the meantime, Sargent will guide Kroger’s business strategy and has expressed his commitment to driving the company’s continued growth.
Sargent said: “As interim CEO, I am committed to working alongside our proven and experienced management team and dedicated associates to ensure Kroger continues providing exceptional value for our customers.”
The company also recently appointed former Ahold Delhaize executive Rudy DiPietro as the new president of the Dallas division.
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