Kroger Names Lori Raya President of Mid-Atlantic Division; Paula Ginnett Promoted to Group Vice President of Retail Operations; Valerie Jabbar Comments
RICHMOND, VA - Kroger has pulled back the curtain on several strategic leadership changes over the past month. Shortly following the appointment of Rob Quast as Head of Investor Relations and Valerie Jabbar as Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions, the retailer is back with news of another executive evolution. It was recently announced that Lori Raya has joined its leadership team as President of its Mid-Atlantic Division, stepping in for Paula Ginnett as she becomes Group Vice President of Retail Operations.
“I’m thrilled to be the new President of Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division, and I can’t wait to work with the talented and passionate team of associates that proudly serves our customers,” Raya said. “One of the things that drew me to Kroger was its focus on supporting communities, and I am looking forward to getting involved and making a difference in Richmond and the other communities Kroger serves throughout our Mid-Atlantic division.”
Raya has more than three decades of experience in the grocery industry, including a tenured career at Safeway/Albertsons. During her time with the retailer, she held a number of executive leadership roles such as Division President for Albertsons and Division President for VONS—Raya was the first woman to serve in that role for the brand, according to a press release.
Most recently, Raya held the position of Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer for SpartanNash.
“Lori is a respected leader within the grocery retail industry, and her perspective will be a valued addition to the Mid-Atlantic division. She is a people-first leader who will build on the success of Paula and the division team to continue delivering a full, fresh, and friendly experience to every customer,” said Jabbar. “We are so grateful for the leadership that Paula has shown over the past two years, and we are pleased to know that we’ll continue to benefit from her experience as she transitions to a new role with the company.”
Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division, which is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, employs more than 18,000 associates and covers over 100 stores across five states.
Congratulations to these leaders on this recent appointment! AndNowUKnow will keep your finger on the pulse of retail as we find out what’s next from this company.
