Menzer steps down as Wal-Mart vice chair

BENTONVILLE, Ark. Wal-Mart vice chairman John Menzer is set to end his 12 year affiliation with the company on March 1, following an announcement late Friday that he planned to retire.

As a result of his departure, Menzer’s responsibilties for major support functions will move into the company’s individual businesses to achieve tighter focus, alignment and accountability, according to a prepared statement. Responsibility for the logistics and real estate divisions will be assumed by Eduardo Castro-Wright, president and ceo of Wal-Mart Stores U. S. The company's information systems division will report directly to Wal-Mart president and ceo Lee Scott and vice chairman Mike Duke, who already oversees international operations, will now have responsibility for global procurement.

“John has had a tremendously successful career at Wal-Mart and I have seen first-hand the difference he has made,” Scott said. “He is probably best known for transforming Wal-Mart International into a well-organized, fast-growing and profitable business. But he is also a talented corporate strategist and I personally have found him to be a valued business counselor.”

Menzer joined Wal-Mart in 1995 as the company’s cfo and in that capacity helped refocus the company on improving improving financial returns and asset productivity that had begun to slip at the company in the years prior to his arrival. In June of 1999 he was named president and ceo of Wal-Mart International in conjunction with Wal-Mart’s acquisition of ASDA in the United Kingdom.  In 2005, he was named vice chairman and given oversight of the U.S. Stores division.