Former Walmart US CEO Greg Foran: Leading Kroger in Retail

The Kroger Co. has appointed Greg Foran as its new Chief Executive Officer, bringing an end to the search for a permanent leader following the March 2025 departure of long-serving CEO Rodney McMullen.

The American food retailer announced on 9 February that its Board of Directors had selected Greg, the former CEO of Walmart US, to take the helm with immediate effect.

He takes over from Ron Sargent, who had been serving as Interim Chief Executive since Rodney stepped down after an investigation into his personal conduct.

According to the company, Kroger's Board undertook a comprehensive search to find an innovative retail leader with a proven track record and Greg met these requirements.

Speaking about the appointment in the company's announcement, Ron explains: "Greg is a highly respected operator who knows how to run large-scale retail businesses, strengthen store execution and lead high-performing teams.

"His leadership style, focus on customer, commitment to associates and disciplined approach to execution are the perfect fit for Kroger."

The board expressed confidence that he represents the right choice to lead the organisation forward.

A proven retail operator

Greg brings more than 40 years of experience leading major consumer businesses through periods of transformation, growth and digital adoption.

He is perhaps best recognised for his tenure as Walmart US CEO from 2014 to 2019, during which he is credited with orchestrating a significant turnaround of the retailer's largest division.

His approach focused on core fundamentals, including enhancing the quality of fresh food offerings.

Greg also drove Walmart's digital evolution, overseeing the expansion of online ordering and pickup services whilst accelerating innovation and growth throughout the company.

Known as a hands-on leader, he prioritised operational excellence and store-level execution.

He also championed workforce improvements, raising wages for hundreds of thousands of employees and introducing educational certification programmes.

Throughout his time at Walmart, Greg delivered positive comparable sales growth for 20 consecutive quarters whilst managing more than 4,500 stores and 1 million associates.

Recent experience and vision

More recently, Greg served as CEO of Air New Zealand from February 2020 to October 2025, where he spearheaded an end-to-end digital transformation aimed at improving customer experience and creating a more agile organisation.

During this period, he navigated the airline through the COVID-19 pandemic, oversaw complex union negotiations and managed multiple supply chain disruptions.

Commenting on his new role, Greg says: "Kroger is one of the most dynamic companies in retail. The company is built on a strong foundation, supported by a talented leadership team and caring associates who are dedicated to the customers and communities they serve.

"At this moment in Kroger's journey, I can honestly say this is the best job on the planet. I look forward to working with the Board and the entire team to build on this momentum, continue raising the bar for customers and deliver long-term value for customers, associates and shareholders."

Financial targets remain unchanged

Alongside the leadership announcement, Kroger has reaffirmed its previously issued fiscal year 2025 guidance, stating it remains committed to delivering sustainable value for shareholders.

The projections, updated in December 2025, include adjusted earnings per share ranging from US$4.75 to US$4.80, operating profits between US$4.8bn and US$4.9bn and free cash flow from US$2.8bn to US$3bn.

These targets reflect ongoing investment in digital capabilities, store renovations and supply chain enhancements.

Under Greg's leadership, Kroger will continue pursuing its strategic priorities, including expanding its private-label portfolio and deploying AI-driven technology across operations.