Kroger Company (NYSE:KR) is preparing to name former Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT) executive Greg Foran as its next chief executive officer, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter.
The U.S. supermarket chain is expected to announce the appointment as early as Monday, bringing to a close a search that has lasted nearly a year. Kroger has been without a permanent CEO since the exit of longtime chief Rodney McMullen, who stepped down over an undisclosed ethics issue, the paper said.
As the second-largest grocery retailer in the United States by sales, Kroger has been looking outside the company for leadership that could provide a fresh strategic direction. The group is navigating pressure from cost-conscious consumers and heightened competition, while working to rein in food price inflation and grow its store network after its $20 billion takeover bid for rival Albertsons collapsed in 2024.
Foran is best known for leading a turnaround of Walmart’s U.S. operations between 2014 and 2019, with an emphasis on fresh food offerings, store execution and online grocery expansion. He later served as chief executive of Air New Zealand, steering the airline through the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following McMullen’s departure, Kroger has been run on an interim basis by Chairman Ron Sargent, who has focused on cost reductions and promotional activity to protect and expand market share, according to the report.