The chairman and CEO von Kroger, Rodney McMullen, resigned after an internal examination of his personal behavior.

The country's largest food chain announced McMullens' resignation on Monday and made it clear that the investigation was not involved in business, financial performance or reporting the company. It was also emphasized that no Kroger employees were involved in the matter.

The experienced board member Ronald Sargent was immediately appointed interim CEO and chairman. Sargent, director of Kroger since 2006, has been the company's leading director of the company since 2017. Previously, he was the top role at Staples, where he worked as chairman and CEO.

The 64-year-old McMullen began his career in 1978 as a part-time officer and excavator in Lexington, Kentucky. He climbed through the rows for more than four decades and was in 1995 as Chief Financial Officer and 2009 Chief Operating Officer. He was appointed CEO in 2014 and took on the role of the chairman a year later.

William Rodney McMullen, CEO von Kroger, speaks during a subcommittee for the judiciary of the Senate about the hearing between competition policy, antitrust law and consumer rights to the proposed Kroger-Albertsons-Freichtaufferenz on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, in the Capitol in Washington.

AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, file

Kroger's board was made aware of the situation on February 21 and is immediately involved with an external independent lawyer to monitor an internal review that was directed by a special committee.

The company said that a search for a constant CEO would start, with Sargent being committed to the lead in the meantime until a successor is named.

According to the announcement, the shares of the Kogers based in Cincinnati decreased by around 1.3% at the Premarket trade.

More to follow.

This article contains reporting from the Associated Press.