New CEO Sparks Executive Shakeup at Walmart

A pair of Walmart executives are reportedly leaving the retail giant in the wake of new CEO John Furner’s arrival.

That’s according to a report Friday (May 22) from CNBC, citing internal memos seen by the network.

These memos say that Tom Ward, the chief operating officer of the Walmart-owned Sam’s Club, is retiring. Cedric Clark, Walmart’s executive vice president of U.S. store operations, is also leaving the company.

According to CNBC, the memo said a replacement for Clark is expected to be announced in the “coming weeks,” though it is not clear when Walmart expects to fill Ward’s position.

CNBC points out that in addition to Furner’s appointment to CEO in February, Walmart has promoted four new top executives: Seth Dallaire, chief growth officer, managing company’s marketplace and advertising businesses; David Guggina, CEO of Walmart U.S.; Chris Nicholas CEO of Walmart International; Latriece Watkins, CEO of Sam’s Club.

The report also noted that the changes are happening during a time of continued growth for Walmart, due to gains with higher-income shoppers and an expanding eCommerce business.

As covered here last week, Walmart’s latest earnings showed another quarter of double-digit eCommerce expansion, with revenues of $177.8 billion, up 5.9% in constant currency.

The company used its earnings call to detail how artificial intelligence, fulfillment investments and platform businesses are changing the economics of retail growth. Executives contended that consumers remain engaged, value is as important as ever and digital convenience is reconfiguring how people make spending decisions.

“We’re also becoming AI native,” Furner told analysts, describing efforts to use AI to  personalize shopping and expand the way shoppers interact with Walmart across channels.

Sparky, Walmart’s AI shopping assistant, is the most obvious proof point, the report added.

Weekly active users more than doubled in the quarter, and Furner said that improvements in AI boosted Sparky’s intelligence and response quality by 40% this year.

As PYMNTS wrote last month, Walmart’s edge when it comes to AI comes from its “hybrid model.” With the company’s brick-and-mortar stores functioning as fulfillment hubs, the company can integrate real-time inventory data into its AI systems, allowing for more accurate recommendations and quicker delivery.

“This tight coupling of digital intelligence and physical infrastructure may allow Walmart to compete not just on price, but on certainty, knowing that what is recommended is available and can be delivered quickly,” the report said.