WMT CEO Duke to be honored by executive women

After the pounding Walmart and its president and CEO Mike Duke have taken in recent weeks in the media over the alleged Mexican bribery and cover up scandal detailed by the New York Times, the company and its leader received some good news this week from the Network of Executive Women.



The organization known as NEW will induct Duke into the CPG/Retail Diversity Hall of Fame on June 28 during an event in Northwest Arkansas. Duke will receive an award named after William J. Grize, the late CEO of Ahold, who championed the cause of diversity in the retail and CPG world. Duke has done the same at Walmart as well as encouraging top female executives to lend their time and energy to support the NEW organization, including Michelle Gloeckler, SVP home for Walmart US who serves as NEW’s board chair.



“Under Mike Duke’s leadership, the world’s largest retail company has promoted talented women to the highest levels,” said NEW president and CEO Joan Toth. “His commitment to gender diversity and inclusion has put a spotlight on the importance and value of developing women leaders and continues to strengthen Walmart's position in the marketplace.”



Duke will receive the award at Women's Day at the LPGA, an official event of the Walmart Northwest Arkansas LPGA golf championship. The breakfast event will be co-hosted by NEW Northwest Arkansas on June 28 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the John Q. Hammonds Center in Rogers, Ark.



The event will feature a panel discussion by industry leaders, including Duke, Gisel Ruiz, EVP and COO of Walmart US, Elane Stock, president of Kimberly-Clark Professional and Alison Kenney Paul, vice chair and U.S. retail leader with Deloitte.