Kroger chief digital officer retiring, to be succeeded by customer engagement guru

CINCINNATI -- The chief commercial officer and chief information officer of 84.51°, a customer engagement firm and subsidiary of Kroger, will succeed Kevin Dougherty, Kroger group VP and chief digital officer following his retirement Jan. 27, the retailer announced Tuesday.



"Kevin has been an integral partner in leading both our logistics operation and, over the last several years, leading Kroger's strategic entry into the digital space," stated Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO, Kroger. "He has led Kroger's e-commerce and digital customer strategy during a period of tremendous growth and change, driving innovation and reshaping our customers' digital experience. Kevin is a proven leader and passionate advocate for our associates and our customers. We wish him, his wife Barbara, and their family all the best in retirement."



Filling that role now will be Yael Cosset, 43. Cosset joined dunnhumby in 2009 as EVP consumer markets. He was named global chief information officer in 2011 and led technology and product matters. He also served as CEO of KSS Retail, a dunnhumby company and global enterprise software provider of price modeling and optimization solutions for retailers worldwide.



In both roles, Cosset collaborated closely with executives at Kroger as well as Tesco, Macy's and Raley's among others, to deliver innovative customer insight and personalization platforms. He was named to his current role at 84.51° in 2015.



"Yael is a passionate advocate for using customer science to make a difference in the lives of our customers. His deep experience in applying technology and innovation in retail make him a perfect fit for this important role," McMullen said. "Yael is a thoughtful and collaborative leader who will empower his team to create innovative solutions that deliver a differentiating and meaningful, personalized experience to our customers."



Cosset and his wife, Judy, live with their son in Cincinnati.