---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-25-019465"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "KR"
cik: "0000056873"
company_name: "KROGER CO"
filed_at: "2025-03-03T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-25T22:12:10.166763+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Kroger CEO McMullen resigns after conduct probe; interim CEO Sargent appointed; FY2024 guidance raised

## Summary
- CEO Rodney McMullen resigned after Board investigation found personal conduct inconsistent with Policy on Business Ethics; not related to financials or associates.
- Lead Director Ronald Sargent appointed interim Chairman and CEO; Mark Sutton becomes lead independent director.
- McMullen forfeits all unvested equity and 2024 bonus; retains fully vested awards with completed performance periods.
- Kroger expects full-year identical sales (ex-fuel) at high end of guidance and adjusted EPS slightly above high end.
- Board formed search committee and engaged national firm to conduct permanent CEO search.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-25-019465
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: KR
- cik: 0000056873
- company_name: KROGER CO
- filed_at: 2025-03-03T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465925019465/0001104659-25-019465-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465925019465/tm258054d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-019465
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-019465.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-019465.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: 3123c3fd77
  claim: Rodney McMullen resigned as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at KROGER CO.
  evidence_excerpt: On March 3, 2025, the Company announced that Rodney McMullen, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has resigned from those positions, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465925019465/0001104659-25-019465-index.htm
- claim_id: 3cc3a721e8
  claim: Mark Sutton was appointed as Lead Director at KROGER CO.
  evidence_excerpt: The Board has appointed director Mark Sutton to serve as the Board’s Lead Director.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465925019465/0001104659-25-019465-index.htm
- claim_id: b3945b856f
  claim: Ronald Sargent was appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at KROGER CO.
  evidence_excerpt: On March 2, 2025, the Board appointed Ronald Sargent, the current Lead Director of the Board, as interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000110465925019465/0001104659-25-019465-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.