The grocery chain Kroger announced on Monday that its chief executive officer, Rodney McMullen, has resigned following a board investigation into his personal conduct. According to a news release from Kroger, McMullen's actions were “inconsistent” with the company's business ethics policy, although they were not related to the company's financial performance or operations. Importantly, Kroger specified that his conduct did not involve any employees within the organization.
This significant management change comes at a critical time for Kroger, which is headquartered in Cincinnati. The company has been grappling with the repercussions of its failed merger with the grocery chain Albertsons. The Kroger board first became aware of “certain personal conduct” related to McMullen on February 21 and quickly engaged outside counsel to lead an investigation. The company emphasized that the actions in question were “unrelated to the business,” highlighting the focus on ethical standards.
In light of this development, Kroger has appointed Ronald Sargent, the company's lead director, as the interim chief executive. Sargent will also assume the role of chairman, taking over McMullen's responsibilities. Having served as a director since 2006, Sargent brings a wealth of experience, including working at Kroger stores during his college summers. In a statement, he expressed his commitment to being a “steady, but active, hand in the execution of our strategy.”
Rodney McMullen dedicated over four decades to Kroger, beginning his career in 1978 as a part-time stock clerk in Lexington, Kentucky. His career trajectory included being elected to the board of directors in 2003, becoming CEO in 2014, and later being named chairman in 2015. His resignation marks a pivotal shift for the company, especially as Kroger prepares to report its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday.
In recent months, Kroger has faced significant challenges, particularly after federal and state regulators blocked its ambitious $25 billion bid for Albertsons in December. This proposed merger was set to be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history, aiming to create a massive $200 billion entity with approximately 5,000 supermarkets nationwide. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) intervened, arguing that the merger would stifle competition and inflate prices to the detriment of both workers and consumers.
Furthermore, Judge Adrienne Nelson of the U.S. District Court in Oregon sided with federal regulators, while a state court in Washington promptly issued a ruling that further blocked the merger. The following day, Albertsons announced its withdrawal from the merger deal and subsequently filed a lawsuit against Kroger, seeking billions in damages. The lawsuit accused Kroger of failing to use its “best efforts” to secure the necessary regulatory approvals. Kroger has since disputed Albertsons' claims, indicating ongoing tensions between the two grocery giants.
