Donna Giordano to retire as president of Kroger's Ralphs division

The Kroger Co., Cincinnati, announced the retirement of Ralphs division president Donna Giordano, effective July 23. Valerie Jabbar, currently vice president of merchandising for Ralphs, will succeed Giordano as president.

Giordano joined the company's King Soopers banner as a courtesy clerk in 1972, while still in college. She was named store manager at King Soopers in 1982, and later held various director-level positions in key areas, including advertising, bakery, general merchandise, grocery, and pharmacy, Kroger said. In 1999, Ms. Giordano was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing of King Soopers. She was promoted to president of QFC in 2002 before being named to her current role in 2011.

"Donna's distinguished leadership has helped Ralphs continue to grow, serve more customers in the highly competitive Southern California market, and help Kroger across our business," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "She is respected throughout the industry and among our associates for her strategic leadership and engagement in the communities we serve. The entire Kroger family thanks Donna for her many contributions and wishes her and her family all the best in retirement."

Jabbar began her career with the company in 1987 as a clerk in the Fry's division, Kroger said. She held numerous leadership roles at Fry's, including assistant store director, category manager and drug and general merchandise coordinator. From 2002–2010, she served in a variety of drug and general merchandising leadership roles at Kroger's general office in Cincinnati and in the Fry's division. She was named Fry's district manager in 2010 and was promoted to vice president of merchandising to the Mid-Atlantic division in 2012. Jabbar was promoted to her current role in the Ralphs division in 2013.

"Valerie is an exceptional leader who is passionate about developing associates and serving our customers and communities," McMullen said. "She brings to her new role broad retail experience and a deep commitment to putting our customers first. We look forward to her continued leadership at Ralphs."