CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. has named new division presidents in connection with its creation of Nashville and Louisville, Ky., divisions.

Kroger Co. has named new division presidents in connection with its creation of Nashville and Louisville, Ky., divisions.

Rick Going was named president of the Nashville division, while Calvin Kaufman was appointed president of the Louisville division. Jayne Homco was named president of the Michigan division, and Erin Sharp was appointed group vice president of Kroger manufacturing.

"Opportunities for growth in Tennessee, northern Alabama, Kentucky, and southern Illinois and Indiana inspired us to take this path," said president and chief operating officer Rodney McMullen.

Going had been president of the Michigan division. After joining Kroger in 1981, he has held a number of leadership positions at the store, district and division levels.

The Nashville division will include more than 11,800 associates working in 63 stores in the Nashville area and 28 stores in the Knoxville, Tenn., and Huntsville, Ala., markets.

Kaufman had been group vice president of Kroger manufacturing. He joined the chain in 1994 and served in a variety of leadership roles, including senior director of logistics.

The Louisville division will include nearly 15,000 associates working in 98 Kroger stores in Kentucky, southern Illinois and southern Indiana.

Homco, a 35-year company veteran, had been vice president of merchandising for the Southwest division.

Sharp had been vice president of operations for Kroger manufacturing. She joined the company in 2011.