Walmart Names Sam's Club CEO; Makes Exec Changes
As it approaches its new fiscal year, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announces a number of changes across the business, drawing on a deep bench of internal talent.
"We are very intentional about developing talent to meet the needs of our rapidly growing business worldwide," says Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke. "The promotions we are announcing today are clear evidence that our succession and management development programs work, and that we have highly talented, well-rounded and experienced business leaders ready to step into larger roles when the opportunities arise."
Current Sam's Club President and CEO Brian Cornell recently informed the company that he and his wife would like to move back to the Northeast for family reasons.
With his departure, Rosalind G. Brewer is promoted to president and CEO of Sam's Club, reporting to Duke, effective Feb. 1, 2012. Brewer was most recently president of the Walmart U.S. east business unit, where she was responsible for more than $100 billion in annual revenue, representing almost 1,600 stores and more than 500,000 associates. Brewer was also the first chairperson of the Walmart President's Council of Global Women Leaders.
Prior to Walmart, Brewer worked for Kimberly-Clark, progressing through various positions and eventually becoming president of a key business sector in 2004. She is a director of the Lockheed Martin Corporation and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees at her alma mater Spelman College. She was also selected one of the Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune Magazine in 2010 and 2011.
Rollin Ford is promoted to chief administrative officer (CAO) for the company, effective Feb. 1, 2012. Specific areas of responsibility include the information systems division, global sourcing, global business processes, global shared services and global customer insights. Ford was most recently the company's chief information officer, and will continue reporting to Duke.
Ford will play an important role in helping the company meet its commitment to reduce SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales by more than 100 basis points over the next five years. Ford's efforts will include a focus on leveraging scale, reducing expenses and increasing productivity around the world.
Ford joined Walmart in 1983 as an hourly associate in our logistics network and has held many positions over the years. He has helped lead the company through periods of enormous growth, including the expansion of the company's transportation and logistics network.
Gisel Ruiz is promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S., effective Feb. 1, 2012. In this position, she will be responsible for the company's U.S. operations, which cover more than 3,800 stores and include Supercenters, discount stores, Neighborhood Markets and Walmart Express formats. Gisel will continue reporting to Walmart U.S. President and CEO Bill Simon and all three regional business unit presidents will report to her.
Ruiz was most recently executive vice president of People for Walmart U.S. where she was responsible for the human resources and store innovation organizations supporting more than 1.2 million associates. She helped transform the company's approach to talent management and leveraged technology to drive process changes that increased efficiencies and improved the customer and associate experience.
Ruiz began her career at Walmart U.S. as a store management trainee in 1992 and has held a variety of leadership positions in store operations, labor relations and human resources. In 2006, she became vice president, regional general manager in the field operations division, and was responsible for 150 Walmart stores in western Texas and New Mexico. In February 2011, Latina Style honored Ruiz as its 2010 Latina Executive of the Year.
Karenann Terrell is promoted to chief information officer for the company, effective Feb. 1, 2012. In this position she will be responsible for the company's global technology systems including stores and clubs, supply chain, merchandising and enterprise platforms. Terrell was most recently Walmart's assistant chief information officer and will continue reporting to Ford.
Prior to joining Walmart, Terrell was chief information officer of health care leader Baxter International, Inc., supporting its businesses worldwide from 2006 to 2010. She previously served as chief information officer of the Chrysler Group and Mercedes-Benz North America. Terrell began her career at General Motors in 1986, where she spent 16 years with responsibility for brand development, manufacturing and engineering at Cadillac.