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CINCINNATI — Next year a new chief executive officer will be taking the helm at the nation’s biggest supermarket retailer.
Next year a new chief executive officer will be taking the helm at the nation’s biggest supermarket retailer.
Kroger Co. president and chief operating officer W. Rodney McMullen, 53, is slated to take the CEO reins on January 1, when current chief executive David Dillon, 62, plans to retire.
The company said Dillon will continue to serve as chairman through the end of 2014, and McMullen’s successor as COO will be named at a later date.
"The time is right for the transition of leadership. I am delighted that the board has elected Rodney McMullen to succeed me," Dillon stated when the succession was announced last month. "Rodney has played a leadership role in every major decision Kroger has made for the past 25 years, including the development and implementation of Kroger’s Customer 1st approach as well as our current growth strategy."
McMullen joined Kroger in 1978 and has been president and COO since 2009 and a director since 2003. A 37-year Kroger veteran, Dillon has been CEO since 2003 and was elected chairman in 2004.
"I am honored to have this unique opportunity to serve our company and gratified by the board’s confidence in me," McMullen commented.
Overall, Kroger operates 2,418 supermarkets and multidepartment stores in 31 states under two dozen banners.
