Kroger, the Cincinnati-based grocery chain, has named Greg Foran as its new Chief Executive Officer after a nearly 1-year search. The company said the appointment is effective immediately.
Foran takes over from interim CEO Ron Sargent, who has led Kroger since March 2025, following Rodney McMullen’s resignation over personal conduct concerns. Sargent will remain board chairman, and Foran will also join the board.
Sargent called Foran an experienced retail leader with a strong background in managing big businesses. He pointed to Foran’s focus on customers, disciplined operations, and team-building skills as strengths that fit Kroger’s long-term plans.
Investors reacted positively to the news, sending Kroger shares up in pre-market trading to near six-month highs. The market’s response shows hope that new leadership will help steady the company after recent sales and strategy challenges.
Foran has decades of global retail and executive experience. He started as a shelf-stacker at Woolworths in Australia and worked his way up. He later joined Walmart, eventually becoming CEO of Walmart U.S. from 2014 to 2019. There, he led digital growth, launched online grocery and curbside pickup, and improved store operations and workforce training.
Most recently, Foran was CEO of Air New Zealand, where he led the airline through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his first comments as Kroger CEO, Foran said he is excited to lead the company at an important time. He wants to build on current progress, improve customer standards, and create lasting value for employees, customers, and shareholders.
Kroger runs over 2,700 stores in 35 states and Washington, D.C., under brands like Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, and King Soopers. Kroger is one of the biggest U.S. grocery chains, but Walmart still leads the market.
Investors and industry experts will watch to see how Foran’s experience in operations and digital retail influences Kroger’s future, especially as the company aims to boost sales growth and improve its competitive standing.
