Few leadership changes move markets instantly, but The Kroger Company’s (KR) latest decision did exactly that. On Feb. 9, its stock went up 3.9% as the company announced the appointment of former Walmart (WMT) executive Greg Foran as chief executive, ending a year-long search after Rodney McMullen’s ouster last March.
Foran brings a proven turnaround pedigree. He served as CEO of Air New Zealand Limited (ANZLY) for nearly five years until October 2025 and previously led Walmart’s U.S. operations from 2014 to 2019. There, he rebuilt store performance and delivered 20 consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth.
