Laura Urquiza Gump

Laura Urquiza Gump serves as President of Kroger Houston — a division of The Kroger Co. (Nyse: Kr) — where she leads 106 stores across Houston, East Texas, and Southwest Louisiana. In this role, she is responsible for setting the division’s strategic direction, driving market growth, and overseeing a team of more than 14,000 associates committed to serving customers every day through food, inspiration, and uplift.

A trailblazer in the grocery industry, Gump is proud to be Kroger’s first Latina division president, an achievement that underscores her extraordinary leadership, perseverance, and commitment to advancing diversity in the workplace.

Gump began her career in grocery retail in 1989 and spent nearly 30 years with H-E-B, where she rose through the ranks to become Group Vice President of Center Store Operations for the San Antonio Food-Drug Division. She also served as Border Regional Vice President of Operations, District Manager, and Store Manager. In 2020, she joined The Kroger Co. as Vice President of Merchandising for the Houston Division, where she quickly made a meaningful impact before being named division president.

Recognized as a respected and influential voice in the industry, this year, Gump was honored as a Top Women in Grocery – Senior Executive by Progressive Grocer, reflecting her leadership, operational excellence, and dedication to empowering others.

Beyond her professional achievements, Gump is deeply committed to service work and community engagement. She has served on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston and Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Within Kroger, she contributes her leadership as a member of The Kroger Co. Foundation and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council.

Gump holds a Bba in Marketing and Management from the University of Texas at El Paso, an Mba in International Business from Our Lady of the Lake University, and executive certifications from Cornell University’s Food Industry Management Program and the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

A proud first-generation Latina, Gump credits her family as her greatest inspiration. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for over 28 years and are the proud parents of two adult children — a son working in It and a daughter serving as an environmental subject matter expert.

Gump’s career is a testament to the power of grit, gratitude, and purpose-driven leadership. She remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation, championing inclusion, and creating lasting impact in the communities she serves and leads through advocacy.