Kroger Names Sukanya Madlinger Pres. of Cincy/Dayton Div.

The Kroger Co. has elevated Sukanya Madlinger to lead its Cincinnati/Dayton division as its new president. Most recently VP of merchandising at the retailer’s cornerstone Cincy-based division, Madlinger replaces Geoff Covert, who was named SVP of retail operations for the nation’s top-ranked grocery chain earlier this month.

Since starting her career with Kroger in 1986, Madlinger, 47, has held several leadership roles, including VP of drug/general merchandise/pharmacy merchandising. She had held the VP of merchandising post for the Cincinnati/Dayton division since 2006.

“Sukanya focuses every day on ways Kroger can best serve our customers and their families,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger president/COO. “Her experience and leadership will have a positive impact on customers and associates in the region.”

Madlinger was born in India and moved to the United States when she was two. She and her husband, Rick, have two children.

Kroger’s Cincinnati/Dayton Division operates 110 stores in the tri-state Dayton-Northern Kentucky-Southeastern Indiana corridor, and employs more than 20,000. All told, Kroger operates 2,468 supermarkets and multidepartment stores in 31 states.