Following an internal investigation into his “personal conduct,” the CEO and board head of The Kroger Co.   immediately resigned on Monday.
The research began on February 21 regarding Rodney McMullen, the chain’s Kroger CEO, and its “financial performance, operations, or reporting,” according to a news release from the Cincinnati-based chain on Monday.
According to the news release, McMullen’s behavior was “inconsistent with Kroger’s scheme on business morals.” A special board commission supervised the investigation, according to Kroger, which hired impartial counsel to handle it.
There were no additional information. On Monday, Kroger leaders declined to comment.
McMullen has served as the company’s CEO since 2014. The native of Lexington, Kentucky, reported to the McClatchy paper The , where he began his career at Kroger filling shelves while attending the University of Kentucky, the , and Lexington Herald Leader.
It’s Kroger’s most recent wash.
According to the , Idaho-based supermarket chain, in December,  , Albertsons Companies , Inc. sued Kroger for violating a acquisition deal by refusing to sell assets necessary for antitrust acceptance and ignoring regulators ‘ opinions, among other things. Albertsons wants to pay a$ 600 million termination fee and billions in legal costs.
Harris Teeter, a subsidiary of Kroger, has been a subsidiary of the Matthews-based company since being acquired for$ 2.4 billion in 2014. According to , Harris Teeter‘s site, the supermarket chain has over 260 locations in eight state. Harris Teeter has 60 locations in the Charlotte area.
Representatives from Harris Teeter  did not respond to a request for comment on Monday right away.
McMullen replacing her at Kroger
Ronald Sargent, the prospect director and interim CEO, has been appointed chairman of the board of directors and interim CEO, according to Kroger. Mark Sutton has been appointed as the result separate producer, according to  .
According to the business, Sargent has been a Kroger chairman since 2006 and has been the company’s direct director since 2017. He served as the CEO of Staples for 35 years in the financial industry.
He now sits on the board of Five Below and Wells Fargo.
Kroger announced that it would do a nationwide search for a continuous CEO.
Kroger, which was established in 1883, has nearly 2,800 locations across 35 says, all operating under various labels.
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