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Kroger promotes Valerie Jabbar to senior VP of retail divisions

Veteran company executive Steve McKinney to retire from post next month

Russell Redman

July 14, 2021

2 Min Read
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With the change, one longtime executive is succeeding another: Valerie Jabbar has served at Kroger for more than 30 years, while Steve McKinney's career at the company covers over four decades.Kroger

Valerie Jabbar has been named senior vice president of retail divisions at The Kroger Co., succeeding Steve McKinney, who is retiring after more than 40 years at the company.

Plans call for Jabbar, currently group vice president of center store merchandising, to take over from McKinney on Aug. 7, Cincinnati-based Kroger said late Tuesday. In her new role, Jabbar will oversee several Kroger Co. retail divisions.

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Jabbar (left) has served as group VP of center store merchandising since 2019. She joined the company in 1987 as a store clerk at Fry’s Food Stores and was elevated to several leadership roles before shifting to Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division in 2012 to serve as VP of merchandising. The next year, Jabbar was appointed to the same role at the Ralphs division and then promoted to Ralphs president in July 2016. She was promoted again, to group VP of merchandising, in 2018 and was named to her current role a year later.

“Valerie is a dedicated leader who provides strong results through her passion for people, both associates and customers. Her proven success of building highly motivated teams and executing with excellence will foster an energy and commitment to continue delivering a full, fresh and friendly experience for every customer in the divisions she will lead,” Mary Ellen Adcock, senior vice president of operations at Kroger, said in a statement. “Valerie’s 34 years of experience with the company bring a deep understanding of the business and will provide yet another valuable perspective among our senior leadership team.”

Related:Kroger Dallas president Adam Wampler dies at 48

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McKinney (left) has spent over four decades at Kroger. He started at the company in 1981 as a clerk for Florida Choice Supermarkets, a former Kroger banner. Later, he rose through the ranks to store manager, buyer and field representative before moving to Fry’s, where he served in several leadership posts before being named VP of operations in 1998. McKinney also served as VP of operations for the Southwest division and VP of operations for Ralphs. He was appointed president of Fry’s in 2013 before being promoted to his current role as senior VP of retail divisions in 2018.

“Steve is an accomplished leader who has inspired generations of associates to achieve excellence while mentoring many into leadership positions,” Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said in a statement. “As a leader who worked in numerous positions and took on new responsibilities, he also committed to the mentoring and development of any associate interested and willing to grow with the company. We thank Steve for his dedication throughout the years and wish him all the best in retirement.”

Related:Kroger’s Home Chef promotes Erik Jensen to president

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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