Clontz to succeed Fey as Kroger Mid-Atlantic president

Kroger Co. said Tuesday that Jerry Clontz will succeed Joe Fey as president of its the retailer’s Mid-Atlantic division.

Fey will retire Feb. 10 after 44 years of service with the company, the last three as president of the Mid-Atlantic division. Clotz currently serves as SVP of operations with Kroger’s Harris Teeter division.

Fey (left) began his career as a meat clerk with Kroger in 1972 while earning a bachelor's degree in business administration at Indiana University. He was quickly promoted to a variety of leadership positions including store management, deli/bakery merchandising, and meat/seafood merchandising in both the company's Central division and corporate office in Cincinnati. In 1999, Mr. Fey was named VP of merchandising for the Dillons division, and in 2008 was named VP of merchandising for the Michigan division. In 2011, he was promoted to president of the QFC division.

Clontz will serve as president of Mid-Atlantic division, effective Feb. 1.

"Jerry is a proven leader who is passionate about this business and the success of his associates," said Sukanya Madlinger, Kroger's SVP of retail divisions. "Jerry has a strong track record of success as a leader at Harris Teeter and we look forward to his contributions in our Mid-Atlantic division."

Clontz joined Harris Teeter in 1971 as a bagger in Marion, N.C. He has held various positions of increasing responsibility, including store manager, store director, district manager, and regional director. In 1997, Clontz was named regional VP and was instrumental in Harris Teeter's entry into the Washington, D.C. market. He was named to his current role in 2007.