Kroger appoints new investor relations chief
Rob Quast takes over post as Rebekah Manis shifts to new role
July 21, 2021
![Kroger_Ocado_Monroe_CFC-Kroger_Delivery_Van-front-1.png Kroger_Ocado_Monroe_CFC-Kroger_Delivery_Van-front-1.png](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt58a1f8f560a1ab0e/blt241a881e4b1a1037/6699570efd135f3c9d236655/Kroger_Ocado_Monroe_CFC-Kroger_Delivery_Van-front-1.png?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale)
The Kroger Co. has named Rob Quast as head of investor relations, succeeding Rebekah Manis, who has been promoted to a new strategic role at the company.
The appointments are effective immediately, Cincinnati-based Kroger said yesterday. Before his promotion to director of investor relations, Quast served as director of risk management.
Quast (left) joined Kroger in December 2013 as a financial manager in the corporate accounting department. In 2015, he was promoted to senior director of corporate insurance and then in 2017 to director of insurance and claims, a role in which he oversaw Kroger’s global insurance strategy.
Before coming to the company, he spent more than three years as a senior auditor in Ernst & Young’s assurance practice, providing consulting services for companies in various industries, including health care, insurance, and manufacturing.
“Rob is a seasoned financial professional and respected leader within Kroger,” Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip said in a statement. “Rob's experience will be invaluable as we continue to share our strategy for delivering strong and sustainable total shareholder returns with our investment community.”
Manis, meanwhile, has been tabbed to lead new geographies at Kroger, including the supermarket giant’s recent entry into Florida through its e-commerce partnership with Ocado. In that project, Kroger opened a customer fulfillment center (CFC) in Groveland, Fla. — a market area where it doesn’t have physical stores — to fill online orders.
A 17-year Kroger veteran, Manis had served as investor relations director since April 2018, following a promotion from merchandising controller. She joined the company in May 2004 as capital management financial manager and held that role for over 10 years before becoming financial manager of corporate brands in September 2014. Her promotion to merchandising controller came in June 2016.
“We thank Rebekah for her relentless commitment and significant contributions to our investor community and look forward to her continued leadership within our new geographies,” Millerchip commented.