Kroger Co.’s interim leader urged employees to forge ahead following an abrupt exit of his predecessor, according to a recording of an internal meeting viewed by Bloomberg News.

Shares of Kroger fell in premarket trading after the grocery giant gave a disappointing profit forecast for the year just days after the resignation of its longtime chief executive.

The Kroger Co. announced Monday that CEO Rodney McMullen has resigned. That resignation came after an investigation found McMullen guilty of “certain personal conduct.” The conduct was unrelated to Kroger’s business and its associates,

Kroger's interim leader gave investors an update on the search for a new CEO following the abrupt resignation of Rodney McMullen following an investigation into personal conduct. During an investor call following Kroger Co.