It isn't every day you hear about a guy who starts as a part-time stock clerk and ends up running the largest supermarket chain in America. That was the story of Rodney McMullen for over 45 years. Honestly, he was the ultimate "Kroger lifer." He started in 1978, lugging boxes in Lexington, Kentucky, while studying at the University of Kentucky. By 2014, he was the CEO.
But then, everything changed in a matter of days.
If you’re looking into what did Rodney McMullen do, you have to look at two very different versions of his career. There’s the strategic architect who turned Kroger into a tech-forward retail powerhouse, and then there’s the executive who suddenly resigned in March 2025 following an ethics investigation. It’s a wild arc that most people in the business world are still trying to wrap their heads around.
The Climb from Stock Clerk to the Corner Office
Rodney didn't just stumble into the CEO role. He basically lived every part of the business. After his early days stocking shelves, he moved into the corporate side as a financial analyst. He was a numbers guy at heart.
He played a massive role in the 1988 leveraged restructuring that kept Kroger public when things were looking pretty dicey. Later, he was the point man for the $13 billion merger with Fred Meyer in 1999. That single move is what really turned Kroger into the national giant we see today. You’ve probably shopped at a store he helped bring into the fold without even knowing it.
When he took over as CEO in 2014, he didn't just sit back. He pushed "Restock Kroger," a massive plan to modernize stores and lean into digital sales. He was the one who signed the deal with Ocado to build those giant automated warehouses with robots picking your groceries. Some people thought he went too far with the tech, and the company even closed a few of those sites recently, but you can't deny he was trying to pull the old-school grocery model into the future.
The $25 Billion Albertsons Gamble
The biggest thing McMullen tried to pull off was the merger with Albertsons. It was supposed to be the largest grocery deal in U.S. history. Rodney argued it was the only way to fight off the "big three"—Walmart, Amazon, and Costco.
He spent years defending this deal to regulators. He promised lower prices and better wages. But the government didn't buy it. A federal judge eventually blocked the merger in late 2024, and the whole thing fell apart.
The Sudden 2025 Resignation
This is where the story takes a sharp turn. In March 2025, Kroger dropped a bombshell: Rodney McMullen was out.
The board had launched an investigation into his "personal conduct." They were very specific that it wasn't about the company's money or operations. It didn't involve any other Kroger employees. But they said his actions were "inconsistent" with the company’s ethics policy.
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It was a shock. One day he’s the face of the company, and the next, he’s gone, leaving $11 million in unvested stock on the table. He didn't get a big "thank you" parade. He just resigned, and Ronald Sargent stepped in as interim CEO.
Why Some Workers Weren't Fans
While Wall Street mostly liked Rodney because Kroger’s stock more than quadrupled during his time, the people in the aisles often felt differently. If you spend any time on Reddit or in breakrooms, you'll hear a different side of what did Rodney McMullen do during his tenure.
- Pay Gaps: He was often criticized for taking home huge paychecks—upward of $15 million to $21 million a year—while many frontline workers felt their wages weren't keeping up with inflation.
- Skeleton Crews: Many associates felt he pushed productivity too hard, leading to understaffed stores and burnt-out employees.
- The "Hazard Pay" Controversy: During the pandemic, Kroger ended its "Hero Pay" bonus fairly early, which led to a massive PR headache and several store closures in cities that tried to mandate extra pay for workers.
What Rodney McMullen Leaves Behind
Regardless of how you feel about his exit, the Kroger he left is massive. We're talking about $150 billion in annual revenue. He helped build "Our Brands"—labels like Simple Truth and Private Selection—into billion-dollar powerhouses that now compete directly with national names like Kraft or Nestlé.
He also spearheaded the "Zero Hunger | Zero Waste" initiative. He claimed the company directed over 2 billion meals to people in need since 2017. For Rodney, it was about showing that a massive corporation could have a soul, even if his critics argued that soul was mostly focused on the bottom line.
Actionable Takeaways for Business Leaders
What can we actually learn from the Rodney McMullen era? It isn't just a story about a guy who worked at one place for a long time.
- Longevity isn't a Shield: You can have 45 years of service and "lifer" status, but your conduct in the present is what matters to a modern board of directors.
- Tech is a Double-Edged Sword: Investing in robotics and digital is necessary, but as Kroger found with some of its Ocado sites, you have to be ready to pivot if the ROI doesn't show up.
- The "Frontline" Gap is Real: If you’re a leader, the disconnect between your compensation and your lowest-paid worker is a liability. It affects morale and becomes a major part of your public legacy.
- Manage Your Mergers Carefully: Putting all your eggs in one giant merger basket is risky. When the Albertsons deal died, it left Kroger—and McMullen—in a vulnerable spot.
The search for a permanent successor is still ongoing. Kroger is looking both inside and outside the company. Whoever takes the seat next has a huge task: they have to maintain the massive growth Rodney built while trying to fix the culture and morale issues that piled up during his decade at the top.
If you're following the retail world, keep an eye on Kroger's next move. They've shifted from a long-term veteran leader to an uncertain future in a very short window of time.
To stay updated on the transition, you can monitor Kroger’s official investor relations page or check SEC filings for the announcement of a permanent CEO replacement.