Kroger has named retail veteran Greg Foran as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Foran previously served as the CEO of Walmart U.S., where he was credited with a major operational turnaround.
The leadership change occurs as Kroger navigates a massive proposed merger with Albertsons.
Foran's background includes recent experience as the CEO of Air New Zealand.
📖 Full Retelling
The Kroger Co. officially appointed former Walmart executive Greg Foran as its new chief executive officer on Monday at the company’s corporate headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, marking a major leadership transition aimed at strengthening the grocer's competitive position against retail rivals. Foran, who is widely recognized for his successful tenure leading Walmart’s U.S. operations, will succeed the outgoing leadership as Kroger seeks to navigate a rapidly evolving grocery landscape characterized by high inflation and shifting consumer habits. The move comes at a critical juncture for the company as it continues to pursue a high-profile merger with Albertsons.
Foran brings a wealth of experience to the role, having most recently served as the CEO of Air New Zealand after his departure from Walmart in 2019. During his time at Walmart, he was credited with orchestrating a significant turnaround in the company’s domestic performance by focusing on store cleanliness, inventory management, and price competitiveness. Kroger’s board of directors likely views his expertise as vital for integrating new technologies into the shopping experience and optimizing supply chain efficiencies across their thousands of locations nationwide.
The appointment is expected to signal a renewed focus on operational excellence as Kroger awaits regulatory decisions regarding its proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons. Industry analysts suggest that hiring a veteran of Foran's caliber provides a vote of confidence to investors who have been wary of the legal and regulatory hurdles facing the grocery giant. As CEO, Foran will be tasked with balancing the integration of new assets while defending the company’s market share against both traditional competitors and e-commerce giants like Amazon.
🏷️ Themes
Corporate Leadership, Retail Economy, Business Strategy
📚 Related People & Topics
Greg Foran
New Zealand businessman (born 1961)
Gregory Stephen Foran (born 22 July 1961) is a New Zealand businessman. He was previously CEO of the American division of Walmart, and was the chief executive officer of Air New Zealand from 2020 to 2025.
The Kroger Co., or simply Kroger, is an American retail company that operates (either directly or through its subsidiaries) supermarkets and multi-department stores throughout the United States.
Founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the company operates supermarkets and multi-depart...
American multinational retail corporation operating department stores
Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 19 other countries. It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.
