The Business Courier reports that Tim Massa, Kroger’s chief people officer, is saying that as the company seeks its next CEO, it is looking for someone outside the company – the first time in Kroger’s 143-year history that an external candidate would have been hired for the top job.
Kroger has been looking for a CEO since Rodney McMullen abruptly resigned after an internal investigation into his conduct concluded that he had violated the company’s policy on business ethics, though the company said that his behavior was unrelated to the business.
Ron Sargent, a member of Kroger’s board of directors who is the former CEO of Staples, has been serving as interim CEO of Kroger as a search goes on.
KC’s View:
I have an idea for Kroger. The company ought to hire Stephen Smith, the CEO of LL Bean, who has announced that he will be stepping down from the role next year.
Not only is he used to being an outsider brought into an executive role – he is the first non-family member ever to run LL Bean – but he has an enormously impressive retail resume, with leadership roles in a wide variety of Walmart’s global businesses, as well as at Delhaize’s US and European businesses. He’s also someone who has a deep appreciation for the front line employees who drive a retail business, as well as the e-commerce, marketing, logistics and operations functions that are critical to 21st century retailing. Smith would be an inspired choice – he’d bring a unique and global perspective to Kroger’s c-suite.
If they haven’t talked to him yet, they should place a call immediately.
The post Kroger’s Next CEO, For The First Time, Will Be An External Hire appeared first on MNB.
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