Kroger CEO resigns abruptly after ‘personal conduct’ investigation
Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen has resigned after the company board investigated his “personal conduct” and found it counter to their corporate code of ethics.
It’s an abrupt leadership shakeup at the country’s largest supermarket chain, with little detail shared on what exactly led to it.
Kroger on Monday said its board had learned about “certain personal conduct” by McMullen on Feb. 21, just over a week ago. The company says an investigation by outside counsel found the conduct was “unrelated to the business” and did not involve Kroger workers, but still “was inconsistent with Kroger’s Policy on Business Ethics.”
Most recently McMullen had overseen Kroger’s unsuccessful attempt to buy the second-largest supermarket chain, Albertsons. The historic grocery mega-merger faced opposition from the Biden administration’s antitrust officials and several state attorneys general.
After more than two years of trying, the deal died in December after the companies failed to convince multiple courts that they should be allowed to merge to take on bigger rivals such as Walmart. Albertsons abandoned the merger and immediately sued Kroger.
McMullen had led Kroger as CEO since 2014. He originally joined Kroger in 1978 as a part-time stocker. He had earlier served as chief operating officer, chief financial officer and a board director for over a decade.
Kroger is now searching for a new CEO. For now, it has appointed Ron Sargent — Kroger’s lead director and former Staples CEO — as interim chief executive.
In its statement, the company said it still plans to hold a call on Thursday to announce its quarterly earnings and guidance for the year ahead.
Alabama Power threatened with lawsuit for contaminating groundwater with coal ash
Nine years after the Gadsden Steam Plant stopped burning coal, its unlined coal ash pond is still polluting Alabama groundwater, records show.
Southwest Airlines will require passengers to keep chargers visible due to fire risk
This year, there have been at least 22 incidents involving lithium batteries in air travel, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Trump administration officially accepts jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One
The plane is a gift that Trump said he would be "stupid" to turn down. Experts say the plane would take years to rework to meet the current standards for Air Force One.
A Jan 6 rioter convicted of assaulting police scored a visit to the White House
Two pardoned Jan. 6 rioters posted photos and videos of themselves visiting the White House. One of them was convicted of assaulting police and texted after the riot, "I have murder in my heart."
The pros and cons of PSA tests for prostate cancer for midlife and older men
With Biden's prostate cancer in the news, men may be wondering whether and at what age to be screened. Advice about the value PSA tests has fluctuated. Here's what to know.
Former Kennedy Center president refutes Trump’s critique of ‘bad management’
"I am deeply troubled by the false allegations regarding the management of the Kennedy Center," Deborah Rutter wrote in a statement.
