Retail giant Kroger announced that Paul Heldman, executive vice president, secretary and general counsel, will retire in the spring of 2014 after a 31-year career at the company.

Heldman has been serving as the company's general counsel since 1989, secretary since 1992, and executive vice president since 2006. He joined Kroger in 1982 as an attorney in the company's law department, where he focused on labor and employment law. He held leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including senior counsel, assistant secretary, vice president, group vice president and senior vice president before assuming his current roles.

Christine Wheatley, Kroger's vice president, senior counsel and assistant secretary, will be named secretary and general counsel, effective upon Heldman's retirement. Wheatley joined Kroger in 2008 as corporate counsel. She became senior counsel in 2011 and vice president in 2012.

Before joining Kroger, Wheatley was engaged in the private practice of law for 11 years, most recently as a partner at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur.

As secretary and general counsel, Wheatley will report directly to Rodney McMullen, who is currently Kroger's president and chief operating officer, but will become Kroger's CEO in January.