Kroger Promotes Keith Dailey to Corporate Affairs Group VP

The Kroger Co. has promoted Keith Dailey to group vice president of corporate affairs, where he will serve as the company’s chief communications and sustainability officer.

Dailey succeeds Jessica Adelman, who recently left the company to pursue other opportunities. Dailey previously was VP of corporate affairs for the Cincinnati-based retailer.

“As a key architect of Zero Hunger Zero Waste, Keith’s strategic and inclusive leadership has advanced Kroger’s position as a national thought leader and authentic advocate for ending hunger, eliminating waste and other social impact initiatives,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “He combines broad public affairs experience with knowledge of Kroger’s corporate character and belief that business can be a force for good.”

Dailey, 39, has nearly 20 years of public affairs experience, including a decade in electoral politics and government.

He joined Kroger in 2011 as chief spokesperson and director of corporate communications, where he led national media relations, financial and executive communications, and issues and crisis management. In 2016, he was promoted to senior director of external affairs after assuming responsibility for government relations, policy and advocacy. He was also elevated to senior director of corporate affairs in 2017 after assuming responsibility for associate communications and engagement, and he was promoted to his previous role as vice president of corporate affairs in 2018.

Prior to Kroger, Dailey was a communications director for the office of Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.

As group vice president of corporate affairs, Dailey’s responsibilities include external communications and brand public relations, financial communications, media relations, issues and crisis management, and executive communications as well as associate communications and engagement; corporate story and KTV–Kroger’s visual and digital storytelling team; environmental sustainability and social responsibility, including Kroger’s social impact plan Zero Hunger Zero Waste, corporate philanthropy and community relations. He also holds leadership roles with both The Kroger Co. Foundation and its Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation. In recognition of the growing importance of communications and social impact to company culture, he will report to Tim Massa, SVP and chief people officer.

Dailey serves on the boards of the Center for Food Integrity and Cincinnati Regional Business Committee. He earned a dual bachelor's degree in philosophy and politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Adelman departed Kroger in December after joining Kroger in 2015 to pursue other opportunities.