Wal-Mart shuffles senior executives; announces departures

Bentonville, Ark. - The restructuring of Wal-Mart’s senior executive ranks continues with the latest round of appointments involving some familiar leaders in new roles with curious titles, as well as some key resignations.



In an internal announcement distributed Friday, Jan. 16, Wal-Mart U.S. President and CEO Greg Foran referenced a series of changes that were announced earlier in the week by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., president and CEO Doug McMillon. Foran described the areas the executives will lead as “Next Generation Work Streams” and characterized the moves as part of the company’s enterprise strategy.



According to the announcement, Jane Ewing, senior VP, Business Development, Wal-Mart U.S., will lead the Next Generation Stock-up work stream. Jeff McAllister, senior VP, Wal-Mart Innovations, will lead the Next Generation Supply Chain work stream and Latriece Watkins, senior VP, Snacks and Beverages, Wal-Mart U.S., will lead the Ways of Working work stream.



“I’m very excited to see what Jane, Jeff and Latriece will bring to their new roles,” Foran said.



In other moves, Wal-Mart named Laura Phillips, senior VP, entertainment, Wal-Mart U.S., to the new role of senior VP, Omni-Channel Assortments. In her new role, Phillips will support the company’s enterprise strategy Compelling Merchandise work stream where she is expected to help the company win key categories by leveraging physical and digital capabilities in a more unified way, according to Foran. She will continue reporting to Andy Barron, executive VP, Softlines for Wal-Mart U.S.



Phillips’ move created an opportunity for Wal-Mart to make other changes in the hardlines area. For example, Greg Hall, senior VP, Hardlines for Wal-Mart U.S. was named senior VP, Entertainment, Wal-Mart U.S., reporting to Andy Barron. Filling Hall’s role is Terry Price who rejoins Wal-Mart after most recently working for Tesco. Price spent 22 years with Wal-Mart and its Asda division in the U.K. before he left the company in 2003.



Along with the promotion of several new executives to work stream roles, Walmart disclosed the retirement of several key executives. The most noteworthy from a merchandising standpoint was the resignation of John Aden as executive VP, Sales Innovation, Walmart U.S. Aden held a variety of roles at Wal-Mart in areas such as U.S. merchandise services, small formats, general merchandise and hardlines, as well as the company’s international operations and leverage teams.



Another key departure involved Bryan Miller, senior VP, Human Resources, Wal-Mart U.S. Miller was with Wal-Mart since 1998 and held of variety of roles in the company’s domestic and international human resources divisions.