Leadership turnover continues at The Kroger Co. as longtime human resources executive Tim Massa prepares to retire amid a broader executive reshaping under CEO Greg Foran. The move follows several recent senior-level departures at the company as Foran continues evaluating Kroger’s operating structure, leadership bench and competitive positioning.
Massa, Kroger’s executive vice president and chief associate experience officer, will retire Sept. 18 after 16 years with the retailer. Kroger said Tuesday that a successor will be announced later.
The departure comes just days after Food Trade News reported on accelerating executive turnover inside Kroger, including the recent exits of senior leaders Jamie Lancaster and Joe Kelly, as Foran pushes deeper into a broader operational and cultural reset at the nation’s largest traditional supermarket operator.
Business strategist Brittain Ladd reported that Foran has been seeking longer-term alignment from senior leadership.
“Kroger CEO Greg Foran has asked several executives at Kroger to commit to staying for 7 years,” Ladd said. “Tim Massa was unwilling to do so, and has announced that he is retiring from Kroger effective September 18.”
Massa joined Kroger in 2010 as vice president of talent development after a 21-year career at Procter & Gamble. During his tenure, he became one of the company’s most influential executives, overseeing labor relations, leadership development, associate well-being, talent strategy, and executive succession planning.
Foran called Massa “a relatable and trusted leader” who helped build a people organization focused on supporting Kroger associates. Kroger Chairman Ron Sargent said Massa helped guide the company through several defining periods while shaping a generation of future leaders.
Among Massa’s highest-profile initiatives was Kroger’s “New Beginnings” program, aimed at creating longer-term career pathways for hourly associates.
The leadership changes come as Kroger faces mounting competitive pressure from Walmart, Costco, Amazon and fast-growing discounters while simultaneously attempting to reset pricing, improve store execution and accelerate growth under Foran’s leadership.
