US grocery retailer Kroger has confirmed a series of senior leadership promotions and retirements across its US retail divisions.
Its current Atlanta division president Victor Smith has been promoted to senior vice-president of retail divisions.
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Smith joined the company in 1983 as a courtesy clerk in the Ralphs division and has since held a range of roles across store operations, merchandising and divisional leadership.
Fry’s division president Monica Garnes has been appointed president of the Atlanta division.
Garnes joined the retailer in 1995 in the Columbus division and has held positions, including produce buyer, store manager and district manager, before being named president of Fry’s in 2018.
Ken DeLuca has been promoted to president of the Fry’s division. He has led the Michigan division since 2018 and has also served on boards supporting charitable and community organisations.
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By GlobalDataThe company also announced the retirement of Tom Schwilke, president of the Ralphs division. He joined the business in 2019 as president of the Dallas division and moved to Ralphs in 2020, following earlier leadership roles at Safeway.
Schwilke will be succeeded by Kendra Doyel, president of the Food 4 Less/Foods Co division.
Separately, Colleen Juergensen, president of the central division, has announced her retirement after 45 years with the company, having joined in 1981 and progressed through leadership roles in the Dillons and Smith’s divisions.
Commenting on the leadership shuffle, Kroger chairman and CEO Ron Sargent said: “We are excited to promote several talented senior executives to key roles that will position Kroger for future success. Victor Smith, Monica Garnes, Kendra Doyel, and Ken DeLuca are strong leaders with decades of experience, and I look forward to their continued success in their new roles.
“I also want to thank Colleen Juergensen and Tom Schwilke for their many contributions to our customers, associates, and shareholders. We wish them well in their well-deserved retirements.”
