David B. Dillon

Dave Dillon is the retired Chairman and CEO of The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati. The company employs over 400,000 associates who serve customers in more than 2,700 retail food stores under two dozen names. Dave served in a variety of leadership roles after joining the Dillon Companies (now part of Kroger) in 1976 with its King Soopers division in Denver. During his career, he served in various leadership positions with Fry’s Food Stores and the Dillon Companies before being named president of Dillon Companies in 1986. He was appointed executive vice president of Kroger in 1990, and he was elected president and chief operating officer of the company in 1995. Dave was named CEO of Kroger in 2003. He was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2004. Dave retired as CEO at the end of 2013 and as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the end of 2014.

Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in Business at the University of Kansas and a law degree at Southern Methodist University. He is a member of the board of directors of 3M and the Union Pacific Corporation. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Kansas Endowment, the University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board, the River Club, and MRIGlobal. In addition, he previously served on the Board of Trustees for the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, Board of Trustees for the University of Cincinnati Foundation, and the Board of Directors for Catalyst, Directv, and Convergys.