Kroger appoints McDonald’s talent veteran Emilee De Martino as Chief People Officer

Kroger is bringing in a senior people-leadership executive from McDonald’s to oversee its workforce strategy, the company announced this week. Emilee De Martino will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, stepping into a role focused on talent development, organizational culture, and associate experience across Kroger’s operations.

De Martino succeeds Tim Massa, who has said he plans to retire on September 18. Kroger said De Martino’s first phase in the job will include meeting associates in the field, including stores, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities and corporate offices, a move meant to ground her people priorities in day-to-day operational realities.

Before joining Kroger, De Martino worked at McDonald’s for eight years. In her most recent position, she was Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for International Operated Markets, where Kroger said she led people strategy across 19 countries and a workforce of more than 750,000 employees.

Kroger also highlighted contributions De Martino made during her time at McDonald’s. It said she helped shape and embed the company’s “People Brand Standards and Values” across the global system and supported enterprise transformation efforts aimed at sustainable growth. The announcement further credited her with advancing talent development and employee experience, pointing to record levels of restaurant crew retention across McDonald’s international operated markets.

In statements accompanying the appointment, Greg Foran, Kroger’s chief executive, described De Martino as a proven leader with experience building people organizations at scale. Foran said her transformation experience and commitment to developing talent made her well suited to lead Kroger’s next chapter in its “people work,” underscoring the role’s emphasis on cultural and organizational change rather than only hiring and HR administration.

De Martino’s career background, as summarized by Kroger, extends beyond McDonald’s. The company said she previously held senior roles at organizations including CNA Financial, Accenture, and Mercer, institutions that span insurance, professional services and human capital advisory work. That mix suggests Kroger is leaning on both operational HR leadership and broader transformation and consulting experience for the chief people role.

For Kroger, the appointment lands in a business environment where workforce stability and store-level productivity remain central to how retailers manage cost, service levels and customer experience. Kroger’s workforce is large, and changes in retention, training and leadership development can materially affect staffing continuity in stores and distribution networks.

Still, the announcement does not provide a detailed roadmap for what changes De Martino will make in her first year, nor does it specify whether Kroger plans to reorganize parts of its HR structure or introduce new programs. What is clear is the timing, the scope described by Kroger, and the emphasis on integrating with associates early, while the company withholds quantitative targets or timelines beyond the leadership transition.