Dive Brief:
- Kroger has promoted Victor Smith, president of the company’s Atlanta Division, to the role of senior vice president of retail divisions, the supermarket chain announced Tuesday in conjunction with several other executive changes.
- The grocer named Monica Garnes, currently president of its Fry’s Division, to replace Smith as president of the Atlanta Division.
- Kroger is realigning its leadership ranks as it prepares to name a permanent CEO, a move the company has said it will make during the first quarter of 2026.
Dive Insight:
Smith joined Kroger in 1983 as a courtesy clerk in the company’s Ralphs Division in California and has held multiple roles for the grocer, including store leader, district manager and meat merchandiser.
In 2015, Smith transferred to the Houston Division to become vice president of operations. He moved back to Ralphs as vice president of merchandising the following year before being elevated to president of Kroger's Delta Division in 2018. Smith became president of the Atlanta division in 2022.
Smith will be Kroger’s third senior vice president of retail divisions and will work alongside Valerie Jabbar and Joe Kelley, who began their positions in 2021 and 2025, respectively.
Garnes, who began her career at Kroger in the company’s Columbus Division in 1995, has served as head of the Fry’s Division since 2018. Earlier, she served as vice president of the Fry’s Division.
Ken DeLuca, a 38-year Kroger veteran who has served as president of Kroger’s Michigan Division since 2018, has been promoted to replace Garnes as president of the Fry’s Division.
Kroger also said Tuesday that Tom Schwilke, president of its Ralphs Division, and Colleen Juergensen, president of the Central Division, plan to retire. Kendra Doyel, who is currently president of the retailer’s Food 4 Less/Foods Co Division, will replace Schwilke. Kroger did not name a replacement for Juergensen.
Kroger has made multiple changes among its executive ranks over the past year as it focuses on its store operations and adjusts its approach to e-commerce fulfillment. This included naming David Kennerly as its CFO, promoting Yael Cosset to chief digital officer and naming several new division heads.
