The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) announced the promotion of Victor Smith to president of its Atlanta Division, which includes 183 stores with more than 27,000 associates in Georgia, Eastern Alabama and South Carolina. The Atlanta Division is the largest Kroger banner division and one of the largest divisions in the company.

Victor Smith Promoted to President of Atlanta Division

Victor Smith, currently president of the Delta Division, has been promoted to president of the Atlanta Division, effective April 1, 2022.  He succeeds Tim Brown, who has announced his plans to retire. The two will work closely to ensure a successful transition, and Victor’s replacement will be announced at a later date. 

Victor joined Kroger in 1983 as a courtesy clerk in the Ralphs Division. He advanced to other roles within the division, including store manager, Operations research analyst, Shrink manager, Operations coordinator, district manager and Meat merchandiser. In 2015, Victor was promoted to vice president of Operations in the Houston Division, before returning to Ralphs as vice president of Merchandising in 2016, where he led merchandising, both sales and marketing, for all 191 Ralphs locations throughout Southern California. He was promoted to president of the Delta Division in 2018. 

“Victor brings a high level of operational excellence as well as compassionate leadership to every role he takes on,” said Mary Ellen Adcock, senior vice president of Operations. “His focus on improving the customer experience and supporting our communities will strengthen and build upon the work Tim has done in Atlanta.” 

Victor is a graduate of the University of Southern California Food Industry Management Program and the University of Southern California Food Industry Executive Program. Victor is currently on the Board of Directors for The Kroger Company Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation and has been named to the Memphis Business Journal’s Power 100 for the two consecutive years.  

Tim Brown, Atlanta Division President, Announces Plans to Retire

Tim Brown, president of the Atlanta Division, has announced his plans to retire after more than 44 years of dedicated service and leadership, effective April 1, 2022. Over the com ing months, Tim will partner closely with Victor Smith, current president of the Delta Division, who is being promoted to Atlanta Division President as Tim’s successor, to seamlessly transition his work and continue providing Every Customer, Every Time! with a Full, Fresh and Friendly experience.   

Tim started his career with Kroger as a bagger at the age of 17. In 1981, he joined the company’s management training program and has since served in leadership positions in nine of Kroger’s retail divisions. He was promoted to vice president of Meat, Seafood and Deli/Bakery Operations in General Office before being promoted to vice president of Merchandising in both the Columbus and Atlanta Divisions. In 2010, he was named vice president of Operations for the Mid-Atlantic Division before being promoted to president of the Delta Division in 2012.  Tim was named president of the Cincinnati/Dayton Division in 2015 and to his current role as leader of the Atlanta Division in 2018. 

“Tim has played an instrumental leadership role in nine of Kroger’s retail divisions throughout his tenure and his passion for people – both customers and associates – is highly respected,” said Mary Ellen Adcock, senior vice president of Operations. “Tim’s dedication to feeding the human spirt has helped created a place where customers love to shop, and our people love to work.”

Tim is currently chairman of the Georgia Food Industry Association, and he has been a member of the executive board during each leadership position held in the Atlanta Division. He also has been on the executive board for the Purple Pansies Pancreatic Cancer Foundation for the past 10 years and has brought his passion for our Zero Hunger Zero Waste mission to life as a board member of local foodbanks in each division that he has worked. 

In retirement, Tim and his wife Angie plan to continue supporting pancreatic cancer research through the Purple Pansies Foundation after losing both their parents to the disease.