Kroger EVP and chief associate experience officer Tim Massa will retire on September 18. 

Massa will remain in his current position until that date to facilitate a transition period, with a successor to be named later.

Massa joined the retail company in 2010 after working for 21 years at The Procter & Gamble. 

He began his tenure at Kroger as VP of talent development and held several executive roles over 16 years, including group VP of human resources and labour relations, chief people officer, and SVP.

As the company’s human resources executive, Massa oversaw operations, including corporate culture, labour relations, employee well-being, talent acquisition, leadership development, and compensation strategies.

He also helped design the ‘New Beginnings’ program, an initiative focused on establishing career advancement pathways for hourly employees.

“Tim has been a relatable and trusted leader throughout his time at Kroger,” said CEO Greg Foran. “He cares deeply about our associates and built a people organisation that supports and respects them. We appreciate Tim’s many contributions over the years and wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Aside from his role at Kroger, Massa holds positions on the board of directors for the CHRO Association, the National Academy of Human Resources Board of Trustees, and the Centre for Executive Succession Advisory Board at the University of South Carolina. 

His local community involvement in Cincinnati includes positions on the Cincinnati Sports Commission Board, the Cincinnati American Cancer Society’s executive committee, and a prior nine-year term on the Cincinnati Zoo board. 

Following his retirement, Massa intends to focus on executive coaching, board service, and leadership development.

In March, Kroger closed its last fiscal year with modest sales growth and improving margins, as the retailer said investments in value and operational efficiency helped strengthen its performance.