A courtroom showdown is shedding light on a corporate mystery involving Rodney McMullen, who resigned as the CEO of Kroger in March.At the time, Kroger cited an investigation into McMullen’s personal conduct but provided little additional information.Merle Heckman, a management professor at Northern Kentucky University, said, “It’s hard for many people to imagine — what would it be like without him being in that role and why?”Jewel and a partner are suing Kroger based on their involvement in getting the grocery chain’s annual wellness festival off the ground. Jewel’s attorneys argue that questioning McMullen about his resignation could impact his credibility as a trial witness and be relevant to “an allegedly corrupt corporate culture at Kroger.”However, McMullen has contended that such questioning is “completely irrelevant” and “would be embarrassing.”Judge Christian Jenkins recently ordered McMullen to submit a written explanation detailing the reasons for his resignation and identifying those involved. Friday marks the deadline for Jenkins to receive McMullen’s explanation.Whether the details of McMullen’s resignation will be made public depends on Jenkins’ decision to either keep the explanation confidential or allow it to be discussed during the trial over Kroger’s wellness festival, which is set to begin in May.
CINCINNATI —
A courtroom showdown is shedding light on a corporate mystery involving Rodney McMullen, who resigned as the CEO of Kroger in March.
At the time, Kroger cited an investigation into McMullen’s personal conduct but provided little additional information.
Merle Heckman, a management professor at Northern Kentucky University, said, “It’s hard for many people to imagine — what would it be like without him being in that role and why?”
Jewel and a partner are suing Kroger based on their involvement in getting the grocery chain’s annual wellness festival off the ground. Jewel’s attorneys argue that questioning McMullen about his resignation could impact his credibility as a trial witness and be relevant to “an allegedly corrupt corporate culture at Kroger.”
However, McMullen has contended that such questioning is “completely irrelevant” and “would be embarrassing.”
Judge Christian Jenkins recently ordered McMullen to submit a written explanation detailing the reasons for his resignation and identifying those involved. Friday marks the deadline for Jenkins to receive McMullen’s explanation.
Whether the details of McMullen’s resignation will be made public depends on Jenkins’ decision to either keep the explanation confidential or allow it to be discussed during the trial over Kroger’s wellness festival, which is set to begin in May.