Walmart Foundation names Bill Gates Foundation exec as new president

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart and the Walmart Foundation on Friday named Sylvia Mathews Burwell as president of the Walmart Foundation.



Burwell will join Walmart in January 2012 to lead the company's charitable giving efforts and Walmart's Global Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative. Burwell will also guide the company's social, environmental and economic opportunity efforts in Africa, the company said.



Burwell is currently president of global development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In her new position, she will report to Leslie Dach, Walmart's executive VP corporate affairs.



Burwell began her work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2001 as COO and executive director. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, she held a variety of positions in Washington, D.C., including deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, deputy chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin.