Rodney McMullen

Longtime Kroger chief executive Rodney McMullen resigned abruptly Monday after an investigation determined that his personal conduct was “inconsistent” with the grocery chain’s ethics policies. The company did not elaborate on the board’s findings in the announcement, other than to say the behavior was unrelated to its business and did not involve any Kroger associates. The Cincinnati-based retailer appointed lead director Ronald Sargent as interim CEO. McMullen was elected Vice Chairman of Kroger in 2003. Before that he was elected Executive Vice President in 1999 and Senior Vice President in 1997. McMullen is a director of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. McMullen had been with Kroger since 1978, starting as a part-time stock clerk in Lexington, Kentucky.