Key Points:
- Kroger reportedly plans to hire Greg Foran as its next CEO. Foran previously led Walmart’s U.S. division and Air New Zealand.
- The hiring follows the sudden firing of Rodney McMullen last year.
- Foran is credited with a major turnaround of Walmart’s store operations.
- An official announcement from the board is expected as soon as Monday.
Grocery giant Kroger is ready to name a new leader. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Sunday, the company plans to hire Greg Foran as its next chief executive officer. Sources familiar with the decision say the announcement could come as early as Monday.
Kroger has been hunting for a permanent boss since last year. The company abruptly fired its longtime CEO, Rodney McMullen, following a scandal. A board investigation discovered that his personal conduct violated company policies, leaving the top job open. Since then, lead director Ronald Sargent has stepped in as the interim CEO while a search committee looked for a replacement.
Greg Foran is a heavy hitter in the retail world. He is best known in the United States for his time running Walmart’s U.S. operations. During his tenure there, he led a massive turnaround. He focused on cleaning up stores, improving fresh food, and fixing basic operations. His strategy worked, leading to 20 straight quarters of sales growth for the retailer.
Most recently, Foran served as the CEO of Air New Zealand. He led the airline from February 2020 until October 2025. It was a difficult time to run an airline. He had to navigate the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down global travel. Later, he managed operational crises, including engine shortages that forced the airline to ground 11 jets.
His return to the U.S. grocery market makes sense given his track record. Kroger is currently fighting to keep its market share against competitors like Walmart and Amazon. Foran’s experience in fixing broken retail operations and driving sales growth makes him a logical choice to steer the ship.
While Kroger has not yet officially confirmed the report, the move signals a desire to bring in an experienced outsider to stabilize the company. The board hopes Foran can turn the page on the recent leadership turmoil and get the business back on track.
