Kroger Elects Staples CEO to Board of Directors

CINCINNATI - Kroger Co. here last week elected Ronald L. Sargent to the company's board of directors, bringing the total number of directors to 15. Sargent is chairman and chief executive officer of Framingham, Mass.-based Staples, the office-supply retailing giant. He joined Staples as vice president of operations in 1989. Prior to that, Sargent spent 10 years with Kroger in various positions. In addition to serving as a director of Staples, Sargent is a director of Aramark Corp., Mattel and The Yankee Candle Company. Sargent is elected to serve until Kroger's annual meeting of shareholders in June 2007, at which time he will stand for election by the shareholders.