Kroger Co. on Tuesday announced the retirement of Nashville division president Rick Going, and said Zane Day has been promoted to succeed him. Day currently serves as VP of operations in the Kroger's Smith's division.
The company also announced the promotion of Katie Wolfram to serve as president of Kroger's Central division. Wolfram, who currently serves as VP of merchandising in the Central division, succeeds Jeff Burt, who was recently named president of the company's Fred Meyer division.
Going will retire from the company after 35 years of service, effective Feb. 27.
"Throughout his notable career, Rick led by empowering his team while always expecting excellence," Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO said. "Rick's leadership in starting two new store operating divisions has built the model for our company. The entire Kroger family wishes Rick and his family all the best in retirement."
Going joined Cincinnati-based Kroger in 1981 as a management trainee in the Cincinnati/Dayton division. He was promoted to VP of operations for the Cincinnati/Dayton division in 1999, and then VP of merchandising in the same division in 2002. In 2007, Going was promoted to president of the new Michigan division, which was created when the former Great Lakes division split into what are now the Columbus and Michigan divisions. He was named to his current role in Nashville in 2013, when the former Mid-South Division split to form the Nashville and Louisville divisions.
Day began his career with Smith's on the night crew in Ogden, Utah, in 1974. He went on to serve in various leadership roles, including store manager and director of merchandising. In 1998, Day was named director of procurement at Fred Meyer's Tolleson Distribution Center. In 2000, he was named director of deli for the Fry's division, before moving to a similar role in the Smith's division in 2003. At Smith's, Day was promoted to district manager and VP of merchandising before being named to his current role, VP of operations, in 2015.
"Zane is a strong leader who is focused on enabling our associates and serving our customers and communities," McMullen said. "His broad experience in our company and industry will benefit our Nashville team."
Wolfram began her career with Kroger in 1979 as an assistant store manager in the Cincinnati/Dayton division. She later served as manager of merchandising systems development and manager of consumer research at Kroger's general office. Wolfram also served in several leadership positions in Kroger Manufacturing, including senior marketing manager and director of sales and marketing. In 2003, she was promoted to VP of sales and operations for Kroger Manufacturing. In 2005, she moved to Denver to join the King Soopers division as VP of merchandising. She was named to her current role in the Central division in 2014. Kroger's Central division is based in Indianapolis and operates stores in Indiana, Illinois and Eastern Missouri.
"Katie's breadth of experience and deep understanding of our company will serve our Central division team well," said McMullen. "Katie's passion for both people and results make her the right leader as we continue to grow in our Central division."
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