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Kroger announced on Friday that Stuart Aitken, the company’s head of merchandising and marketing, is stepping down to “pursue other professional opportunities.”
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Aitken will remain in his role until the end of this year. Mary Ellen Adcock, Kroger’s Senior Vice President of Operations, will succeed him as Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer.
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Aitken has been instrumental in establishing Kroger’s fresh, omnichannel market positioning in recent years. He also helped expand Kroger’s alternative revenue streams after serving as CEO of data analytics company Dunnhumby, which sold its U.S. assets to Kroger in 2015, and of the grocer’s internal data business, 84.51.
Aitken is leaving Kroger at a sensitive time for the grocer, which is waiting to hear whether the company can move forward with its plan to merge with Albertsons. three bruise tests who put a public spotlight on the challenges she faces.
Kroger also underwent a CFO transition earlier this year after former chief financial officer Gary Millerchip left become chief financial officer of Costco.
Aitken joined Kroger as head of the data analytics division, but over time his role expanded to include management of sales, pricing and category planning.
Aitken helped create the grocer’s ‘Fresh for All’ marketing strategy, which was rolled out in 2019. The following year took on the role from chief merchant and marketing officer to longtime director Joe Grieshaber, who retired. In his four-plus years in that role, Aitken helped the company expand its digital operations and alternative revenue streams, while also weathering the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to thank Stuart for his work to evolve the Kroger brand while bringing exciting, innovative products to our shelves,” Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said in a statement. “He was instrumental in overseeing the integration of Dunnhumby and the creation of 84.51º.”
Aitken has submitted his resignation Kroger said Tuesday in a filing Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Adcock, who has been with Kroger for more than 20 years, will assume her new role on January 1. She became Kroger’s Senior Vice President of Operations, a role that put her in charge of areas such as customer experience, associate experience, asset protection and food safety, in 2019.
Adcock joined Kroger in 1999 as a member of the Manufacturing Division and worked in various management positions across several divisions, including deli/bakery and natural food. In 2014, she became head of merchandising and operations for the grocer’s Columbus division, and in 2016 became vice president of retail sales.
“Mary Ellen is a respected leader both within Kroger and within our industry,” said McMullen. “Her deep strategic experience over the past 25 years at Kroger in roles of increasing responsibility will continue to drive value for customers and growth for our company and our employees.”
Kroger said its two senior vice presidents of retail operations, Valarie Jabbar and Kenny Kimball, and group vice president of retail operations Paula Kash, will remain in their positions and report to McMullen. Jabbar and Kimball are responsible for Kroger’s operating units, while Kash oversees the grocer’s retail operations, including asset protection, corporate food technology and e-commerce..
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