Grocery giant Kroger on Monday named former Walmart executive Greg Foran as its new chief executive, ending a year-long search that began after the company removed Rodney McMullen last March.
The U.S. grocer pushed out McMullen following a board investigation that found his personal conduct was “inconsistent” with certain company policies.
Foran, a native of New Zealand, most recently served as CEO of Air New Zealand for about five years until October 2025. Before that, he led Walmart’s U.S. business as president and CEO from 2014 to 2019.
During his time at Walmart, Foran earned credit for reviving the retailer’s U.S. operations by strengthening existing stores. Under his leadership, Walmart posted 20 straight quarters of comparable sales growth.
His appointment comes at a challenging moment for Kroger, which is facing softer consumer spending—even on everyday essentials—and rising competition from rivals such as Walmart.
“We believe he brings instant credibility to Kroger after his demonstrated success turning around Walmart U.S. store operations,” said Evercore ISI analyst Michael Montani.
While searching for a permanent CEO, Kroger’s board named lead director Ronald Sargent—former longtime chief of office supplies chain Staples—as interim chief executive. The company said Sargent will remain board chairman to help ensure a smooth leadership transition.
The leadership change comes as global consumer and retail companies face mounting pressure from tariffs and uneven consumer spending, prompting a wave of executive reshuffles across the industry.
McMullen’s departure followed Kroger’s decision to abandon its two-year effort to acquire smaller rival Albertsons in a $25 billion deal. McMullen had strongly supported the merger as a way to combat rising prices and strengthen competition. A union group had criticized the move, saying McMullen was trying to “distract attention from his multiple failures as CEO by announcing a massive one-time giveaway to shareholders,” and called for his removal.
Despite the controversy, Kroger’s stock valuation more than tripled during McMullen’s roughly 11-year tenure as CEO.
Shares of the company, which reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 forecast, rose about 6% in premarket trading on Monday.
