Michelle Gloeckler

Talk about deja vu. It's been only four months since shoppers dodged elbows and raced through the aisles to capture Black Friday's best deals, but the sales are making a comeback at Wal-Mart for spring as the big-box retailer looks to take a bite out of the growing home improvement sector. On Friday, Wal-Mart is slashing prices and debuting deeper offerings in its outdoor living and lawn and garden segments. The move puts pressure on home improvement leaders Home Depot and Lowe's, which consider the critical spring selling season their version of Christmas. 

Walmart has named five executives to senior vice president positions within its merchandising organization. Walmart, Gary Severson, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for hardlines, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for entertainment Seong Ohm, Global Merchandising Center, GMC, Karen Stuckey, senior vice president of home, hardlines and entertainment, Hanes Casual Wear, Sara Lee Corp., Michelle Gloeckler, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for home, Hershey Co., Matt Kistler, senior vice president of merchandise execution

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Senior leadership within Walmart’s merchandising organization continues to undergo a transformation, as the retailer’s chief merchandising officer Duncan Mac Naughton on Friday announced another round of personnel moves. The most recent changes were precipitated by an announcement the prior week that veteran merchant John Westling was retiring from his position of EVP general merchandise and replenishment. That resulted in the elevation of SVPs John Aden and Pam Kohn to new EVP roles, which in turn triggered additional personnel moves Walmart announced internally on Friday. Among the key changes, Gary Severson will transition to the role of