Kroger Announces President and COO Succession Plan

The Kroger Co. has announced that Michael L. Ellis will be named president and chief operating officer, effective January 1, 2014, completing the succession plan announced in September. The company expects its Board of Directors to elect Mr. Ellis president and COO at the next board meeting in December. In September, Kroger announced its Board of Directors' long-term CEO succession plan. David B. Dillon, 62, Kroger's chairman and CEO, will retire as CEO on January 1, 2014, and will continue to serve as chairman through December 31, 2014. W. Rodney McMullen, 53, Kroger's president and chief operating officer, will become CEO on January 1, 2014. Mr. Ellis, 55, has been serving in his current role as senior vice president of Retail Divisions since 2012, where he leads five retail supermarket divisions, plus Kroger's jewelry and convenience store businesses. He previously served as president of Portland-based Fred Meyer – the company's largest operating division by revenue – for six years. "Mike's broad-based experience on both the food and general merchandise sides of our business make him a great fit for this role," says Mr. Dillon. "Mike is a team builder who will be a great partner with our entire leadership team. We look forward to his dynamic leadership of Kroger's diverse operations." "Mike has been a key player in our strategic efforts for many years, including the expansion of Fred Meyer's general merchandising expertise throughout the company and, more recently, our accelerated growth plan," says Mr. McMullen. "His extensive knowledge spans our multiple formats and unique approaches to merchandising. Mike's insistence on operational excellence and his willingness to push boundaries to improve the customer experience will ensure Kroger continues to grow and deliver shareholder value. Above all else, Mike brings a contagious enthusiasm for our associates and putting the customer first." Mr. Ellis is a 38-year Kroger veteran. He joined Fred Meyer in 1975 as a parcel clerk at age 16, and went on to serve in a series of operations and merchandising leadership positions in stores, division management and as a corporate officer. He was vice president of Fred Meyer's food group before joining The Kroger Co. as a senior officer in 2004. He returned to lead Fred Meyer as president in 2006, where he significantly improved and sustained associate engagement. Mr. Ellis played an influential role in the growth of the company's successful Marketplace store format, which offers a wide assortment of general merchandise including home goods, toys and apparel in addition to full-service grocery and pharmacy departments, industry observers say. "I am excited and honored for the opportunity to work with the tremendous leadership team at Kroger," says Mr. Ellis. "I am committed to helping them deliver on Kroger's high-velocity growth plan for our customers, associates and shareholders." Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs 343,000 associates who serve customers in 2,418 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 783 convenience stores, 326 fine jewelry stores, 1,195 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and grassroots organizations, company officials say. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 80 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber's Million Dollar Club.