Kroger names new chief merchandising and marketing officer

Kroger has named Mary Ellen Adcock as its new chief merchandising and marketing officer, effective Jan. 1, 2025, the company said in a press release on Friday.

Adcock, who has served as senior vice president of operations since 2019, succeeds Stuart Aitken, who left the position to become President and CEO of data analytics firm Circana. 

Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen called Adcock a “respected leader within Kroger and our industry.”

“Her deep strategic experience in her past 25 years with Kroger in roles of increasing responsibility will continue to drive value for customers and growth for our business and associates,” McMullen added. 

Valarie Jabbar and Kenny Kimball, senior vice presidents of retail operations, and Paula Kash, who leads enterprise retail operations, including asset protection, corporate food technology, and e-commerce operations, will now report to McMullen, Kroger said. 

“On behalf of the Kroger Board and management team, I want to thank Stuart for his work to evolve Kroger's brand while bringing exciting, innovating products to our shelves,” McMullen said in the press release. “He played an instrumental role in overseeing dunnhumby's integration and establishing 84.51º. We wish Stuart and his family all the best as they embark on a new chapter.”

As senior vice president of operations, Adcock has led strategic operations for more than 2,700 stores in 35 states. Kroger said she has delivered more than $1 billion in annual operations savings for six years in a row. 

She joined Kroger in 1999 in the grocer’s manufacturing division and was promoted to vice president of deli/bakery manufacturing in 2009. She became vice president of natural foods in 2012, and in 2014 led merchandising and operations for the Columbus division. She was named group vice president of retail operations in 2016 and senior vice president of retail operations in 2019.

Circana announced Monday that Aitken succeeds Kirk Perry, who is retiring from his role as president and CEO and will continue to serve as a member of the Circana Board of Directors. Aitken will also serve on the Circana Board of Directors.

“As part of the company’s succession planning process, Kirk and the rest of the Circana Board have been focused on identifying the ideal candidate to lead Circana well into the future, and we are confident we have found that in Stuart," said Tod Johnson, chair of the Circana Board, in a prepared statement. "His passionate leadership, strategic and innovative mindset, and extensive experience across the retail, technology, and data/analytics industries will create value for our company, our people, and the clients we serve globally.”

Aitken previously served as CEO of Kroger's data analytics firm 84.51°, and its predecessor, dunnhumby USA.