Greg Foran, who has led Walmart’s U.S. operations since 2019, will take the helm at Kroger, overseeing its 2,800-store chain across 35 states. His appointment marks a rare external hire for Kroger’s top job and underscores the grocer’s push to expand and modernize its business.

Foran’s exit leaves a vacancy at Walmart U.S., where he steered e-commerce growth and store operations through competitive pressure. Walmart has initiated an internal search for his successor to maintain continuity ahead of its annual shareholder meeting.