Kroger loses another exec to retirement
Kroger loses another exec to retirement
The Kroger Co. announced that Tim Massa, executive vice president and chief associate experience officer, will retire Sept. 18. Earlier this week the company said Valerie Jabbar, senior vice president of retail divisions, retired in May after 38 years of service.
Massa came to Kroger in 2010 following a 21-year career at The Procter & Gamble Co. He joined the company as vice president of talent development, and in the next 16 years rose through a series of senior leadership roles, including group vice president of human resources and labor relations, chief people officer, senior vice president and executive vice president and chief associate experience officer.
As Kroger's most senior human resources executive, Massa led the company's strategy across talent, leadership development, labor relations, total rewards, associate well-being and culture. He is widely credited with building one of the most respected people organizations in retail and shaping Kroger's "business-led, people-enabled" approach to talent management.
Massa was an early architect of Kroger's New Beginnings program, which creates pathways for hourly associates to build long-term careers and improve their lives through meaningful work. The program reflects a conviction that guided much of Massa's career – that talent exists everywhere and companies have a responsibility to help all people succeed.
Massa's tenure spanned some of the most consequential moments in Kroger's recent history. He guided the company's people response to the COVID-19 pandemic, helped author Kroger's Framework for Action and championed efforts to share Kroger's learnings from times of tragedy with other companies.
"Tim has been a relatable and trusted leader throughout his time at Kroger," said Greg Foran, CEO of Kroger. "He cares deeply about our associates and built a people organization that supports and respects them. We appreciate Tim's many contributions over the years and wish him all the best in his retirement."
He also worked closely with Kroger's compensation and talent development committee on executive compensation and board of directors on executive succession planning, ensuring the company has strong, ready leaders who are prepared to guide Kroger well into the future.
"Tim Massa is the kind of leader every company hopes to have, and every board is fortunate to work with," said Ron Sargent, chairman of Kroger's board. "For 16 years, Tim has been a champion for Kroger's associates and a trusted partner to our board of directors. He built a world-class people organization, navigated the company through some of its most defining moments and quietly shaped a generation of leaders who will carry Kroger forward for years to come. His legacy is more than the strategies he created, it's the people he developed and the culture he shaped. On behalf of the entire board, we thank Tim for his exceptional service and wish him every success in his next chapter."
"It has been the honor of my career to serve the associates at Kroger," said Massa. "I've been incredibly fortunate to spend my career with two of the most iconic companies in the world – both headquartered right here in Cincinnati – and to have worked in cities across the U.S. and central Europe along the way. From day one at Kroger, I believed that our people and our company values are what make this company special, and after 16 years, I continue to believe our people are the experience makers that create the customer experience we strive for, one customer at a time. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues, to the leaders and our Board that I've had the privilege to work alongside, and most of all to the associates who bring our purpose to life every day. I will always believe, together, we are the best!"
