Mark Sutton Elected to Kroger Board

Mark Sutton, chairman and CEO of International Paper, has been elected to the board of directors at The Kroger Co.

"We are delighted to welcome Mark to Kroger," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Mark's deep experience in an end-to-end business and global perspective make him a valued addition to Kroger's board of directors."

Before becoming CEO of the global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products, Sutton was president and COO with responsibility for running the company's global business. He joined Memphis, Tenn.-based International Paper in 1984 as an electrical engineer and has held roles of increasing responsibility throughout his career, including mill manager; VP of corrugated packaging operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa; VP of strategic planning; and SVP of several business units, including global supply chain. Sutton became CEO in 2014.

Sutton is a member of The Business Council and the Business Roundtable. He serves on the boards of the American Forest & Paper Association and the International Advisory Board of the Moscow School of Management – Skolkovo. He also serves on the boards of Memphis Tomorrow and the New Memphis Institute.

Elected to serve until Kroger's annual shareholders’ meeting in June, Sutton will then stand for election by the shareholders.

Cincinnati-based Kroger operates nearly 2,800 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia.