Walmart promotes Sam’s Club head to run U.S. business
John Furner is taking the reins as president and CEO of Walmart U.S. effective Nov. 1.
Furner will report directly to Walmart president and CEO Doug McMillon. Greg Foran, who has served as president and CEO of Walmart U.S. since 2014, is taking a role as CEO at Air New Zealand Limited. Foran will stay on with Walmart through Jan. 31, 2020 to ensure a smooth transition.
Furner, 45, started with Walmart as an hourly associate in 1993, working part-time in the garden center of a supercenter. He worked his way up through a number of frontline leadership roles, later becoming a store manager, district manager and buyer. He has held leadership roles in operations, merchandising and sourcing in Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club and Walmart International, where he served at Walmart China as chief merchandising and marketing officer.
Prior to becoming Sam’s Club CEO in 2017, he was chief merchandising officer for Sam’s Club. Furner will partner with Walmart U.S. e-commerce CEO Marc Lore, who also reports to McMillon, to deliver a seamless omnichannel experience for Walmart’s U.S. customers.
“John has done a fantastic job at Sam’s Club, and he will continue the momentum we have in Walmart U.S.,” said McMillon. “John knows our business well, having held many different jobs in the company over more than 25 years, and he is helping transform it for the future. He has the experience and judgment to know what we should continue doing and what we should change.”
“I’m grateful for this opportunity and ready to get started,” said Furner. “There’s no better place than Walmart U.S. to touch the lives of millions of customers and associates. Together with the team, we will build on the progress under Greg’s leadership and continue to make Walmart an even better place to work and shop.”
“It has been an honor to lead the team at Walmart U.S.,” said Foran. “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve at a unique moment for retail and want to thank the associates who made it happen. It is bittersweet to leave Walmart, but this incredible opportunity to lead an iconic Kiwi brand was one I could not pass up, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter.”
The company will announce Furner’s successor as president and CEO of Sam’s Club at a later date.