With one of its divisional presidents retiring, Kroger has named new leaders for its central and Dillon’s divisions. The business on Tuesday declared retirement, effective Feb. 2, of primary division president Pam Matthews, who has been with the corporation for 40 years. Kroger named Colleen Juergensen as Matthews’ the heir and appointed Steve Dreher to the role Juergensen leaves as Dillon’s race director.
“Pam’s intensity for our partners and the retail industry has been demonstrated everywhere her strong career with Kroger,” stated Mike Donnelly, Kroger’s managing vice president and COO. “She has been an excellent mentor and mentor to many and will leave a legacy of caring, dedicated organizations who care about each other and the consumers and populations they serve.”
Numerous Management Roles
Matthews registered Kroger as a courtesy clerk in the Fred Meyer division in 1980, holding numerous management roles in that division over 25 years before becoming Kroger manager of marketing. She took over marketing for the central division in 2006, supported by selling for the Delta Division, and advance to Delta vice president of operations.
She was named QFC division president in 2016 and moved into her current role in 2018. DSN sister publication Progressive Grocer named Matthews, one it is Top Women in Grocery, and she also has been accepted with the Indian Fever Inspirational Award.
Taking over for Matthews, Juergensen has reached the Dillons division since 2016 and has been with the business for more than 38 years after starting as a bakery clerk in her hometown of Great Bend, Kansas.
She has worked in various roles in the Dillons division, including the market leader, district administrator, and director of advertising, as well as vice president of operations. She also has been vice president of operations and vice president of merchandising for the Smiths division. She also was recognized by Progressive Grocer as a Top Woman in Grocery.
Diverse Background In Marketing
“Colleen has been powerful throughout her long career with the Kroger Family of Companies, and we know she’ll proceed to serve our associates, customers, and areas with distinction as the leader of our Central division,” Donnelly stated. “Her diverse background in operations and marketing joined with her passion for the area will help us deliver our vision to serve America through food motivation and uplift.”
Juergensen’s role as Dillon’s director will be filled by Steve Dreher, who has been with the organization since 1985. His roles had included division labor specialist and labor manager, as well as district manager across certain regions before he was named to his current position of Dillon’s division vice president.
“We are pleased to elevate Steve to the role of division president at Dillon’s,” stated Donnelly. “Steve has driven concrete results in his role as vice president and appreciates the Dillons customer and market well. We look forward to his continuation of achieving great results and inspiring our associates to deliver the outstanding consumer experience expected at Dillon’s.”
To Sum Up
The Kroger divisions are being currently divided, and the following activities of the president and vice president will be enlighted in our further articles.
