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A former rival of grocery giant Kroger has been named the company’s next CEO.
Greg Foran, former CEO of Walmart’s US division, will now lead Kroger after an “extensive” year-long search for “an innovative retail leader with a strong track record,” the company announced Monday.
Kroger is the largest U.S. grocer by sales, behind only Walmart, and has been searching for a new leader since March 2025 when former CEO Rodney McMullen was dismissed for an undisclosed ethical violation.
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“Kroger is one of the most dynamic companies in retail,” said Foran said in a press release. “The company is built on a strong foundation, supported by a talented leadership team and caring partners who are dedicated to customers and the communities they serve.”
A shopper pushes a cart inside a Kroger supermarket in Peoria, Illinois. (Getty Images)
“At this point in my Kroger journey, I can honestly say that this is the best job on the planet,” he continued. “I look forward to working with the Board and the entire team to build on this momentum, continue to raise the bar for clients and deliver long-term value for clients, associates and shareholders.”
“Greg is a well-respected operator who knows how to run retail businesses at scale, strengthen store execution and lead high-performing teams,” Kroger Interim CEO Ron Sargent also said.
“His leadership style, customer focus, commitment to associates and disciplined approach to execution are the perfect fit for Kroger,” added Sargent. “The Board is confident that Greg is the right leader to guide Kroger into its next chapter.”
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Foran worked for Walmart from 2014 to 2019 and is credited with leading and managing more than 4,600 stores as it introduced digital ordering and pickup. Walmart also posted 20 consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth under his leadership.
After leaving Walmart, the 64-year-old New Zealander served as CEO of Air New Zealand, a role he held until October.
In reaction to the news, Kroger stocks were rising around 5% shortly after the opening bell.
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After McMullen’s ouster and before Foran’s arrival, Kroger worked to reduce costs across all operations, eliminating about 1,000 jobs and closing dozens of stores in recent months. Sargent previously said the reviewed areas were not significant to the company’s future growth and determined that closing the stores “will make the company more efficient.”
Kroger’s total company sales were $33.9 billion in the third quarter of 2025, up from $33.6 billion in the same period last year. The company attributed the performance to the strength of fresh food and e-commerce, helping to keep sales steady.
