"The supermarket conglomerate said on Monday that it has hired former Walmart U.S. and Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran to be its new chief executive, filling a corner office that has sat empty for almost a year. Foran is the executive whose hands-on style and high standards revitalized Walmart's mammoth grocery business last decade. Wall Street clearly loved the appointment: Kroger shares shot up as much as 8% on the news."
"But the company has been a hot mess lately. Almost a year ago, ex-CEO Rodney McMullen resigned abruptly because of an undisclosed ethics violation related to his personal conduct. A number of other Kroger top executives have since left the company too, creating a leadership vacuum in an already dicey time: Kroger is trying to figure out how to attract cash-strapped consumers battered by inflation."
"Known for his candor, Foran once famously told reporters that most Walmart's stores were not up to standard, breaking with a company culture that didn't prize such directness. He focused on basic but crucial touches like widening aisles in the food departments to make them seem less cluttered, and adding space for fresh food as part of a broader strategy to improve the big box store's selection of produce and meats."
Kroger hired Greg Foran as chief executive after nearly a year without a permanent CEO. Foran previously led Walmart U.S. and Air New Zealand and is credited with revitalizing Walmart's grocery business through hands-on management and higher standards. Kroger ranked No. 27 on the 2025 Fortune 500 with $147 billion in revenue but faced turmoil after ex-CEO Rodney McMullen resigned over an undisclosed ethics violation and several top executives departed. Kroger must attract cash-strapped consumers amid inflation and recover from the 2024 blocking of a $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons. Wall Street reacted positively, sending Kroger shares up as much as 8%.
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