The Kroger Co. has named veteran retail executive Mark Ibbotson executive vice president and chief store operations officer, effective Sept. 14.
Ibbotson will join Kroger after holding senior operations, real estate and technology roles at Walmart U.S. and its former British subsidiary, Asda. His responsibilities at Walmart included store operations, asset protection and several elements of the retailer’s digital transformation.
The appointment adds another former Walmart executive to the leadership team being assembled by Kroger CEO Greg Foran, who led Walmart U.S. from 2014 through 2019. Ibbotson joined Walmart U.S. in 2015, meaning the two executives worked together during much of Foran’s tenure.
“Mark has done this work at scale, and he has done it exceptionally well,” Foran said. “He knows what it takes to simplify complex operations, bring out the best in frontline teams, and build the digital and physical capabilities that win with customers.”
Ibbotson began his retail career in the United Kingdom, including positions with Sainsbury’s, before joining Asda in 2004. He advanced through loss prevention, productivity and retail leadership roles before becoming chief operating officer.
As Asda’s COO, Ibbotson oversaw hundreds of stores and worked to improve operating efficiency, reduce costs and expand the retailer’s e-commerce capabilities. Those initiatives included the introduction of pickup and drive-through services.
Ibbotson joined Walmart U.S. as senior vice president of innovation, initially focusing on simplifying store operations and introducing technology intended to improve customer service and employee productivity. He later became executive vice president of central operations and realty.
In that expanded role, Ibbotson helped oversee Walmart’s grocery e-commerce rollout, including pickup and delivery services, and supported the development of the company’s Walmart Academies employee-training program.
Since leaving Walmart in 2020, he has advised retail and technology companies and has spent the past four years as a senior adviser to McKinsey & Co.
The appointment comes as Kroger works to more closely integrate its stores and digital operations under Foran. In August, the Cincinnati-based grocer named Jet.com co-founder and former Walmart executive Nate Faust executive vice president and chief e-commerce officer.
Faust started Sept. 1 and is responsible for Kroger’s digital business. Together, the appointments give Kroger’s new CEO experienced leaders focused separately on physical-store execution and e-commerce growth.
Foran, who became Kroger’s CEO in February, has identified customer value, store conditions, digital capabilities, productivity and cost savings as priorities for the company.