Report: Walmart Shuffling Execs to Further Integrate Stores, Digital
Walmart is making further organizational changes as it continues to integrate its store and digital operations and leadership, according to a July 19 memo obtained by CNBC that was sent by CEO Doug McMillon to the retailer’s employees. The biggest change announced is Walmart's move to bring the U.S. supply chain teams together, which will be led by Greg Smith, current executive vice president of Walmart U.S. supply chain. Smith will jointly report to Greg Foran, who runs Walmart’s U.S. stores, and Marc Lore, who runs Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce business. Nate Faust, who joined company in 2016 as part of Walmart’s Jet.com purchase, is currently leading e-commerce fulfillment for Walmart. Faust will assist with the integration of the new leadership teams before moving to a new, yet-to-be announced position within the organization.
Twelve other leaders from within have been named to the newly created U.S. supply chain leadership team. Not every area is being integrated, however. The U.S. merchandising teams, for example, will stay distinct, but Ashley Buchanan will move from the executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Sam’s Club to be the chief merchandising officer for U.S. e-commerce, reporting to Lore. Andy Dunn, Bonobos co-founder, is currently is in charge of the digitally native brands Walmart has acquired, including Eloquii, ModCloth and others reporting to Lore, but will now report to Buchanan.
Total Retail's Take: The organizational changes are a continuation of a strategy to bring together physical and digital operations that Walmart has deployed for several years, largely since the acquisition of Jet.com in the fall of 2016. Last month, for example, Walmart announced that it's eliminating the president position at Jet.com and folding the e-commerce company's divisions into its own. "We take these steps knowing we will make further adjustments over time as we balance the need for focus and speed with efficiency and leverage," said Foran, in the note obtained by CNBC.
