Kroger Taps Walmart Turnaround Architect Greg Foran as New CEO
February 8, 2026 · by Fintool Agent
Kroger is poised to end its nearly year-long CEO search by naming Greg Foran—the executive who engineered Walmart's U.S. turnaround—as its next chief executive, according to The Wall Street Journal . The announcement could come as early as Monday.
The appointment would cap a tumultuous period for America's largest supermarket chain, which has operated under interim leadership since the abrupt resignation of longtime CEO Rodney McMullen in March 2025 following a board investigation into his personal conduct .
Kroger shares closed Friday at $67.50, up 1.2% for the session and roughly 7% above their 50-day moving average, suggesting investors may have anticipated positive news on the CEO front.
The Walmart Playbook
Foran, 63, brings credentials that few retail executives can match. During his five-year tenure leading Walmart's $332 billion U.S. division from 2014-2019, he delivered 20 consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth—a streak that helped Walmart's stock double during the period .
His transformation playbook at Walmart focused on fundamentals that Kroger desperately needs:
- Store conditions: Foran obsessed over in-stock rates, fresh quality, and store cleanliness
- Digital integration: He scaled online grocery pickup to over 1,000 stores, creating a "halo effect" that boosted overall store performance
- Competitive edge: "I love competing... Bring it on because competition makes us better," Foran told investors in 2019
After leaving Walmart, Foran returned to his native New Zealand to lead Air New Zealand from February 2020 through October 2025—navigating the airline through the pandemic before stepping aside .
Ask Fintool AI AgentA Year of Turmoil
Foran inherits a company that has endured extraordinary disruption. The timeline tells the story:
The McMullen Exit
On February 21, 2025, Kroger's board was made aware of "certain personal conduct" by McMullen and immediately retained outside counsel. Just ten days later, McMullen resigned, forfeiting all unvested equity awards and his 2024 bonus . The board emphasized that the conduct was "not related to the Company's financial performance, operations or reporting, and it did not involve any Kroger associates."
The Albertsons Collapse
The CEO search has played out against the backdrop of Kroger's failed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons. After the FTC and multiple states obtained injunctions blocking the deal in December 2024, Kroger terminated the merger agreement . The fallout continues—Albertsons has sued Kroger in Delaware Chancery Court seeking a $600 million termination fee plus additional damages .
Interim Stability
Ronald Sargent, the former Staples CEO who had served as Kroger's lead independent director since 2017, stepped into the interim CEO role. "Kroger has been a special place throughout my retail career," Sargent said, noting he started working in Kroger stores as a college student . He earns $4.35 million annualized in the interim role .
Financial Foundation
Despite the leadership chaos, Kroger's underlying business has remained stable. The grocer generated $147.1 billion in revenue for fiscal 2025, with net income of $2.67 billion .
| Metric | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue ($B) | $148.3 | $150.0 | $147.1 |
| Net Income ($B) | $2.24 | $2.16 | $2.67 |
| EPS | $3.06 | $2.96 | $3.67 |
"We delivered strong financial results in 2024 and have positive momentum in our business," interim CEO Sargent said on the March 2025 earnings call. "We're confident in our plans for 2025 and our commitment to deliver total shareholder return of 8%-11% over time."
The company has also made strategic moves during the transition, including scaling its generative AI strategy with Google Cloud and selling its Vitacost.com e-commerce business.
Ask Fintool AI AgentThe Competitive Challenge
Foran knows exactly what he's walking into. At Walmart, he regularly discussed the competitive threats Kroger now faces.
"Aldi is fierce and they are good," Foran said in 2019. "They have done a good job remodeling stores, adding more organic and improved their offering... The best Aldi stores are often in the highest income areas of the city serving smart shoppers who want to save money where they can."
On Lidl's expansion: "Believe me, when we heard Lidl was coming, that was a galvanizing moment for the stores on the eastern seaboard. Walmart people got fired up in this region, remodeled stores, we invested in price and wages and took the challenge."
Kroger operates 2,800+ stores across 35 states with over 409,000 associates . Under Foran, the question becomes whether he can bring the same intensity—and results—that transformed Walmart's massive U.S. footprint.
What to Watch
Monday's Announcement: Kroger is expected to confirm Foran's appointment, potentially including details on compensation, start date, and initial strategic priorities.
Q4 Earnings: Kroger's fourth quarter conference call, scheduled for early March, will be the first opportunity to hear Foran's vision for the company—assuming he's in the seat by then.
Albertsons Litigation: The ongoing Delaware case over the failed merger's termination fee remains a wildcard. A $600 million adverse judgment would represent material cash outflow.
Union Relations: Kroger's relationship with the United Food and Commercial Workers union is perennial headline risk. Foran will need to navigate labor dynamics while pushing for operational efficiencies.
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