<p>The Kroger Co. announced that current Chief Executive Officer, David B. Dillon, will be succeeded by W. Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s President and Chief Operating Officer as part of its Board of Directors’ long-term CEO succession plan.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/kroger_ceo_sept_2013_BODY01.jpg" alt="Cropped images September 20th 2013" />Dillon, 62, is a 37-year Kroger veteran who has been serving as CEO since 2003. He will retire on January 1, 2014, while still continuing to serve as Chairman of the Board through December 31, 2014, according to a press release.<br/><br/><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/kroger_ceo_sept_2013_BODY02.jpg" alt="Cropped images September 20th 2013" />McMullen, 53, will become CEO on January 1, 2014. He joined Kroger in 1978 on a part-time basis on a stock crew and has been President and COO since 2009 and a Director since 2003. He has held previous senior management positions including Vice Chairman; Executive Vice President of Strategy, Planning and Finance; and Chief Financial Officer.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Dillon asserts that the time is right for a transition of leadership as Kroger implements its strategic growth initiatives. He is delighted that McMullen will be succeeding him and is confident in his ability to continue leading the company. “Rodney has played a leadership role in every major decision Kroger has made for the past 25 years, including the development and implementation of Kroger’s Customer 1st approach as well as our current growth strategy,” said Dillon. “I have been honored to lead this great company for over 10 years and look forward to assisting Rodney and the Board in the transition while continuing to serve as Chairman.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Robert D. Beyer, Kroger’s Lead Director thanks Dave Dillon for his extraordinary job as CEO and throughout his distinguished career at Kroger. “Under his leadership, the company has consistently delivered value for shareholders, customers, and associates. The Board has planned carefully for this leadership succession. We are confident Kroger will continue its growth momentum during the transition and under Rodney McMullen’s leadership. Rodney has the right skills and experience to build on Dave’s accomplishments and leverage Kroger’s strong platform in the years ahead.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “I am honored to have this unique opportunity to serve our company and gratified by the Board’s confidence in me,” said McMullen. I am excited to lead our efforts to build on Kroger’s market position and competitive advantages to drive value for our shareholders and to strengthen our deep connection with our great associates, our millions of customers and the communities we call home.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> McMullen’s successor will be announced at a later date.</br/></br/></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.kroger.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_new"> Kroger </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
