CINCINNATI — Kroger earlier this week named Pam Matthews president of the company's central division and Suzy Monford as president of the QFC division.
Monford replaces Matthews, formerly president of Kroger's QFC division, succeeds Katie Wolfram, who is retiring. Monford is assuming the role vacated by Matthew.
"We are grateful for Katie's nearly 40 years of dedicated service to our associates and customers, and we are excited to have Pam and Suzy take on these indispensable leadership roles in our company," stated Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO Kroger. "Both leaders bring successful and distinguished retail experience to the roles and will help with the execution of the Restock Kroger Plan that will bring valuable changes to our customers, associates, communities, and shareholders."
Wolfram will retire from the company after 38 years of distinguished service, effective Nov. 4, the company reported. "Katie has accomplished much in her career with Kroger and has always been passionate about creating an inclusive and diverse work culture," McMullen said. "She has been a valued leadership partner across the company and Central division. We truly appreciate the many contributions Katie has made to Kroger, and we wish her and her family the best in retirement."
Wolfram was named to her current role in 2016 and has been spearheading an aggressive growth strategy in the Central division since joining the region as VP merchandising in 2014. In the last two years, the company has invested nearly $329 million in the central Indiana market, adding five new Marketplace stores and 12 new gas stations, remodeling and/or expanding 14 existing stores, building a regional training center and adding more than 1,400 new jobs to the region. The Central Division operates 138 stores with more than 19,500 associates.
Wolfram began her career with Kroger in 1979 as an assistant store manager in the Cincinnati-Dayton division. She went on to serve in several leadership positions at Kroger's corporate office in Cincinnati and with Kroger's Manufacturing division. In 2005, she moved to Denver to join the King Soopers division as VP merchandising, before joining the Central division in 2014 to serve in the same role.
Wolfram was a leader for the first Cultural Council, a team development and culture-building group, started at the corporate office, and she started the Reach Higher initiative in Kroger Manufacturing. Additionally, Ms. Wolfram represented Kroger as a leader in the Network of Executive Women, Denver.
In retirement, she plans to move back to Denver to be near her daughter and grandson.
Pam Matthews Promoted to President of Central Division
Matthews, currently president of the QFC division, succeeds Wolfram as president of Kroger's Central division, effective Oct. 23. Matthews started with the company in 1980 in the Fred Meyer division. She has held a variety of leadership roles in her 25-year career with Fred Meyer, including store management, training, corporate brand development, and merchandising for deli-bakery, drug-general merchandise and grocery.
Matthews also served as director of deli-bakery merchandising and director of floral merchandising and procurement at Kroger's corporate office in Cincinnati before being promoted to VP merchandising for the Central division in 2006. She moved to the Delta division as VP merchandising in 2014 and was named VP operations in 2015. She was named president of the QFC division in 2016.
Suzy Monford Named President of QFC Division
Monford joins the company to succeed Matthews as president of QFC, effective Oct. 23. Monford is the former CEO of Andronico's Community Markets, a Bay Area chain acquired by Albertsons in early 2017.
Prior to Andronico's, Monford was the head of innovation for Woolworths Supermarkets in Australia, after spending 10 years as an executive for H-E-B Central Market and H-E-B Grocery Company in Texas.
She will be based at the division office in Seattle and oversee QFC's 65 stores in Washington and Oregon.