Kroger veteran to head up Home Depot’s retail media network
A home improvement giant has named a new leader for its in-house retail media network.
Home Depot has named Christine Foster as general manager and VP of Orange Apron Media, effective Sept. 8. In the role, she will lead the strategy and growth initiatives for the network, including overseeing strategic direction and operations, focusing on accelerating revenue growth and expanding brand partnerships.
Foster joins Home Depot from Kroger Precision Marketing, where she served as group VP of commercial strategy and operations for the past six months. In this role, she led the grocer’s insights, digital advertising sales, incentives and operations teams.
Prior to Kroger Precision Marketing, Foster spent more than four years in various roles at 84.51˚, Kroger’s retail data science and insights firm. She will report directly to Molly Battin, senior VP and chief marketing officer at Home Depot.
[READ MORE: Home Depot beats Street in Q2; launches national express delivery]
“Christine’s deep experience, paired with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and driving measurable growth, makes her the right leader to grow Orange Apron Media into an even more powerful engine for our brand partners,” said Battin. “I know her vision and leadership will help us accelerate our strategy and unlock new value for the brands and customers we serve. We are thrilled to welcome her to The Home Depot.”
The retailer debuted Orange Apron Media in 2024 as a reboot of its Retail Media+ platform. Powered by customer insights from more than 2,300 stores and its e-commerce business, the network allows brand partners to engage audiences closer to the point of purchase. Advertisers can work through managed service offerings or Orange Access, Orange Apron Media’s self-service portal, to execute campaigns across DIY and Pro audiences.
“The Home Depot is one of the most beloved brands in retail deeply rooted in serving both DIY and Pro customers,” said Foster. “Orange Apron Media is a powerful retail media engine built on top of that strong foundation. I look forward to continuing this momentum alongside the talented team – expanding our media capabilities, removing friction for our partners, and delivering impactful, highly relevant experiences for our shoppers.”
At the end of the second quarter, Home Depot operated a total of 2,364 retail stores and over 1,340 SRS locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico.
