Kathleen S. Barclay has joined The Kroger Co. as its new SVP of human resources, where she will be responsible for leading all aspects of human resources for the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, which has a workforce of more than 326,000 associates.

Barclay comes to Cincinnati-based Kroger from General Motors Corp., where she spent more than a decade in the global human resources department. Having earned her master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, she has spent nearly 30 years in the human resources field.

When she assumes her new duties in January 2010, Barclay will report to Kroger’s chairman and CEO, David B. Dillon, and will serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team.

“Our associates are the key to our success,” said Dillon. “Ms. Barclay will help us position Kroger as a leading employer and accelerate associate engagement in our company’s ‘Customer’ 1st business strategy.”

Kroger operates more than 2,470 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names, including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry’s, King Soopers, Smith’s, Dillons, QFC and City Market.