CINCINNATI – The Kroger Co. announced several appointments of experienced enterprise leaders to new retail roles and increased responsibilities.
“We are excited to promote several talented senior executives to key roles that will position Kroger for future success,” said Ron Sargent, Kroger’s Chairman and CEO. “Victor Smith, Monica Garnes, Kendra Doyel, and Ken DeLuca are strong leaders with decades of experience, and I look forward to their continued success in their new roles. I also want to thank Colleen Juergensen and Tom Schwilke for their many contributions to our customers, associates, and shareholders. We wish them well in their well-deserved retirements.”
Kroger promoted Victor Smith, president of the company's Atlanta division, to senior vice president of Retail Divisions. Smith brings over 40 years of experience in the grocery industry, having first joined the company as a courtesy clerk in the Ralphs division in 1983. He has held various roles within Kroger, including store leader, district manager, and meat merchandiser. In 2015, he was promoted to vice president of Operations in the Houston Division, then returned to Ralphs as vice president of Merchandising in 2016. He was promoted to president of the Delta Division in 2018 and became president of the Atlanta Division in 2022.
Smith currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Kroger Company Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation and the Georgia Food Industry Association. In 2025, he was named CEO of the Year by the Georgia Minority Business Association.
Smith joins Valerie Jabbar and Joe Kelley as the company’s senior vice presidents of retail divisions.
Monica Garnes, currently president of the Fry's Division, has been promoted to president of the Atlanta Division. Garnes began her career with Kroger in 1995 in the Columbus Division. She held various leadership roles during her 31-year tenure with the company, including Produce buyer, store manager, and district manager. Garnes was promoted to vice president of Merchandising for the Fry's Division in 2013 and was named vice president of Produce/Floral Merchandising at the General Office in 2015. She was promoted to her current role in 2018.
She currently sits on the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees and the Arizona Commerce Authority Board.
Ken DeLuca, currently president of the Michigan Division, has been promoted to president of the Fry's Division. DeLuca began his 38-year Kroger career in 1988 as a clerk in the Michigan Division. Since starting his career, DeLuca has held multiple leadership roles in the Michigan Division, including store manager, Labor Relations manager, and Operations district manager. In 2004, he moved to the Columbus Division as Operations district manager, and in 2005, he was promoted to Retail Operations vice president for the Dillon's Division. DeLuca was promoted to vice president of Merchandising in 2008 and later returned to vice president of Operations. He was promoted to his current role in 2018.
DeLuca served as an executive board member on the Rags Remembered Foundation in Michigan. During his time in the Dillon's Division, he served as a board member of the Kansas Children's Service League and the Cancer Council of Reno County.
Tom Schwilke, president of the Ralphs Division, announced his plans to retire after seven years with Kroger and over 42 years in the retail industry.
Schwilke joined Kroger in 2019 as division president of the Dallas Division, bringing 35 years of experience in merchandising and retail leadership, including roles as president and general manager of Safeway's NorCal Division, president and general manager of Perishables, and group vice president of Produce and Floral. He was promoted to his current position leading the Ralphs Division in 2020.
Kendra Doyel, currently president of the Food 4 Less/Foods Co Division, has been promoted to president of the Ralphs Division. Doyel joined the company in 1998 as a pharmacist in the Fry's Division. Since then, she has held several diverse and important leadership roles at Fry's, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, and Fred Meyer. In 2017, Doyel was promoted to HR leader for Ralphs and Food 4 Less, and in 2022, she was promoted to vice president of Merchandising for Ralphs. She was named to her current role in 2025.
She served as the chair of the board for the California Grocers Association and was a member of the board of directors for the Network of Executive Women. In 2022, the CGA Educational Foundation awarded Doyel the Hall of Achievement Award for her exceptional service and dedication to the food industry.
After 45 years of dedicated service, Colleen Juergensen, president of the Central Division, announced her retirement plans.
Juergensen started her career with the company as a bakery clerk in her hometown of Great Bend, Kansas, in 1981. She held various leadership roles in the Dillons Division, including store leader, district manager, and vice president of Operations. Juergensen joined the Smith's Division as vice president of Operations in 2012 and was named vice president of Merchandising for Smith's in 2015. She was promoted to her current role as president of Dillons in 2016.
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