Former Wal-Mart CEO Duke joins private equity firm

Former Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke talks with First Lady Michelle Obama at the quarterly meeting of member CEOs of the Business Roundtable on March 13, 2013. Photo credit: Walmart.

Washington, D.C. – Mike Duke, former president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, has joined global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group. Mike Duke as an operating executive in the Global Consumer & Retail group. He began his duties in mid-April.

As an operating executive, Duke will provide strategic guidance to Carlyle professionals throughout the investment process and will advise portfolio company executives on management, operational, branding and growth strategies. Duke will also continue to devote time to various roles outside of the firm.

Since inception, Carlyle has invested approximately $12 billion of equity in 70 transactions in the consumer and retail space, including Dunkin’ Brands, philosophy, CVC, NBTY, Beats, Vogue and Acosta.

Duke joined Wal-Mart Stores in 1995, where he served as president and CEO from 2009 to 2014. From 2005 to 2009, he served as vice chairman with responsibility for Wal-Mart International; previously, he led the logistics, distribution and administration divisions, as well as Wal-Mart U.S. He continues to serve as a member of the Wal-Mart board of directors.