CINCINNATI, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) announced today the appointment of Kathleen S. Barclay as Senior Vice President, Human Resources.

Ms. Barclay joins Kroger after heading Global Human Resources for General Motors Corporation for more than ten years. Ms. Barclay's background includes nearly 30 years of progressive responsibilities in the Human Resources field. In her role as Senior Vice President at Kroger, she will be responsible for leading all aspects of Human Resources for the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer. Kroger has more than 326,000 associates.

Ms. Barclay has an M.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. from Michigan State University. She will report to Kroger's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David B. Dillon, and serve as a member of the company's executive leadership team. She will join the company in January 2010.

"We are delighted to have Ms. Barclay join the Kroger team," Mr. Dillon said. "Our associates are the key to our success. Ms. Barclay will help us position Kroger as a leading employer and accelerate associate engagement in our company's Customer 1(st) business strategy."

Kroger, the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 326,000 associates who serve customers in 2,470 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry's, King Soopers, Smith's, Dillons, QFC and City Market. The Company also operates 768 convenience stores, 388 fine jewelry stores, 818 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.