Kroger Announces Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer Succession

Rhea-AI Summary

Kroger announced leadership changes as Stuart Aitken steps down from his position as senior vice president, chief merchandising and marketing officer, effective December 31, 2024. Mary Ellen Adcock, currently senior vice president of operations, will succeed him. Senior VPs Valarie Jabbar and Kenny Kimball, along with group VP Paula Kash, will continue leading operations and report directly to CEO Rodney McMullen. Aitken was credited for evolving Kroger's brand, overseeing dunnhumby's integration, and establishing 84.51º.

Positive

• Internal promotion maintains leadership continuity with experienced executive (25-year veteran)
• Streamlined reporting structure with operations leaders now reporting directly to CEO

Negative

• Loss of key executive responsible for merchandising and marketing strategy
• Potential disruption in ongoing brand evolution and innovation initiatives

CINCINNATI, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that Stuart Aitken is stepping down as senior vice president, chief merchandising and marketing officer, to pursue other professional opportunities. Aitken will remain in his role at Kroger through December 31, 2024.

Mary Ellen Adcock, Kroger's senior vice president of operations, will succeed him as chief merchandising and marketing officer.

"Mary Ellen is a respected leader both within Kroger and our industry," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Her deep strategic experience in her past 25 years with Kroger in roles of increasing responsibility will continue to drive value for customers and growth for our business and associates."

Continuing in their current roles as leaders of the company's operations are senior vice presidents of retail operations Valarie Jabbar and Kenny Kimball, who oversee Kroger operating divisions, and group vice president of retail operations Paula Kash, who leads enterprise retail operations, which includes asset protection, corporate food technology and e-commerce operations. They will now report to McMullen.

"On behalf of the Kroger Board and management team, I want to thank Stuart for his work to evolve Kroger's brand while bringing exciting, innovating products to our shelves," said McMullen. "He played an instrumental role in overseeing dunnhumby's integration and establishing 84.51º. We wish Stuart and his family all the best as they embark on a new chapter."

About Mary Ellen Adcock

Adcock served as Kroger's senior vice president of operations since 2019. In this role, she leads strategic operations for the company's more than 2,700 stores across 35 states supporting more than 416,000 associates and serving 11 million customers every day. Adcock oversees customer experience, associate experience, asset protection, process change and productivity improvement initiatives and is responsible for maintaining the highest food safety and regulatory standards.

As senior vice president of operations, Adcock has delivered more than $1 billion in annual operations savings for six consecutive years. This strategic focus on efficiency improvements provided Kroger the ability to reinvest those savings to consistently lower prices for customers and increase wages for associates. Adcock achieved this efficiency goal while also improving the customer and associate experience by developing Kroger's Full, Fresh & Friendly: Every Customer Every Time program.

Adcock also played a lead role in operationalizing Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, Kroger's commitment to end hunger in the communities it serves and eliminate waste as a company. She led the organization in achieving 100% store participation in the company's surplus food rescue program for the first time.

Adcock joined Kroger in 1999 in the company's manufacturing division, where she held a variety of leadership positions. In 2009, she was promoted to vice president of deli/bakery manufacturing, and in 2012, Adcock became vice president of natural foods. In 2014, she led merchandising and operations for the Columbus division. Adcock was promoted to group vice president of retail operations in 2016 and named as senior vice president of retail operations in 2019. In 2022, Adcock was a Top Women in Grocery Trailblazer.

About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit™. We are, across our family of companies nearly 420,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.

FAQ

Who is replacing Stuart Aitken as Kroger's (KR) chief merchandising and marketing officer?

Mary Ellen Adcock, previously Kroger's senior vice president of operations, will succeed Stuart Aitken as chief merchandising and marketing officer.

When will Stuart Aitken leave his position at Kroger (KR)?

Stuart Aitken will remain in his role at Kroger through December 31, 2024.

What were Stuart Aitken's major achievements at Kroger (KR)?

Stuart Aitken played key roles in evolving Kroger's brand, overseeing dunnhumby's integration, and establishing 84.51º.

How long has Mary Ellen Adcock been with Kroger (KR)?

Mary Ellen Adcock has been with Kroger for 25 years in roles of increasing responsibility.