Kroger taps McDonald's veteran as next chief people officer
The Kroger Co. has selected its next chief people officer who will oversee its more than 400,000 employees.
Emilee De Martino will replace Tim Massa as the grocer’s next executive VP and chief people officer. Massa, whose title is chief associate experience officer, will retire on Sept. 18 after more than 15 years with Kroger.
De Martino joins Kroger from McDonald's, where she most recently served as senior VP and chief people officer for International Operated Markets for four years. In that role, she led people strategy across 19 countries and a workforce of more than 750,000 employees, working with business leaders to “drive growth, transformation and an elevated employee experience,” according to Kroger. She spent a total of eight years at the hamburger giant.
"Emilee is a proven leader with a track record of building strong people organizations at scale," said Kroger CEO Greg Foran, who took the reins of the grocer in February. "Her experience leading transformation across one of the world's largest workforces, combined with her commitment to developing talent, makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead the next chapter of our people work at Kroger."
Prior to McDonald's, De Martino served as VP of change and culture at CNA Financial Corporation, where she led organizational transformation initiatives, including multiple system transformations, organization redesign and modernization efforts throughout the company. Before joining CNA Financial Corporation, De Martino worked in management consulting at Accenture and Mercer, advising global organizations on human capital strategy, change management and large-scale transformation.
Massa began at Kroger in 2010 following a 21-year career at The Procter & Gamble Company. He joined the company as VP of talent development, and proceeded to rise through a series of senior leadership roles, including group VP of human resources and labor relations, chief people officer, senior VP and executive VP and chief associate experience officer. Massa has served in his current role since March 2025.
"Kroger is one of the most respected companies in America, with a long-standing commitment to its associates and the communities it serves," said De Martino. "I am honored to join an organization where people are central to the strategy and excited to work with associates across the business to continue building Kroger as an employer of choice."
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Based in Cincinnati, The Kroger Co. operates approximately 2,800 stores under a variety of banners across the U.S., including Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith's, King Soopers, Fry's, QFC, City Market, Owen's, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker's, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Pick 'n Save, Metro Market and Mariano's.
