Wal-Mart Shuffles Executive Ranks, Blending Web and Store Duties
The moves mark a more comprehensive remake of the retailer’s e-commerce leadership structure
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reworked its e-commerce leadership structure, giving responsibility for both online and in-store operations to several top executives. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is shuffling its leadership ranks five months after buying Jet.com Inc., giving several top executives responsibility for both online and in-store operations.
The changes come as the world’s largest retailer prepares to cut about 1,000 corporate jobs at its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., and revamps its operations to compete with Amazon.com Inc.
Tony Rogers, Wal-Mart’s chief marketing officer, will also lead online and digital marketing efforts, including for Jet.com, according to an internal memo. “This integrated team will help us communicate in a more consistent way with our customers,” wrote Jet.com founder Marc Lore, who runs the company’s U.S. e-commerce operations.
Jeremy King, head of the WalmartLabs engineering team, is being promoted to U.S. chief technology officer, reporting to both the company’s U.S. stores chief, Greg Foran, and Mr. Lore.
Michael Bender, chief operating officer for e-commerce, will leave the company, Chief Executive Doug McMillon told staff in a memo Friday. Scott Hilton, chief revenue officer for Jet.com, will become chief revenue officer for all e-commerce operations. Jamie Iannone, chief executive of SamsClub.com, will take on responsibility for all of the warehouse chain’s technology efforts, including in stores.
In the past, Wal-Mart e-commerce executives and store executives kept to their own turf in terms of direct responsibility, a separation that has proved challenging for the retailer as it works to take on Amazon and leverage its stores as a competitive advantage, according to former employees familiar with the matter.
Wal-Mart purchased Jet.com Inc. for $3.3 billion in September, quickly placing Mr. Lore, Jet’s founder, at the head of its e-commerce operations. By November Mr. Lore had already made some management changes, naming Jet co-founder Nate Faust to lead fulfillment operations for Jet.com and Walmart.com. Friday’s changes mark a more complete reworking of Wal-Mart’s e-commerce leadership structure.
The retailer has also hired Clay Johnson, an executive at General Electric Co.’s power business for the role of enterprise chief information officer. Mr. Johnson will “focus on lowering our costs, getting the benefits of scale, associate experience and cyber security,” Mr. McMillon said in the memo.
Wal-Mart announced Tuesday its chief information officer, Karenann Terrell, will leave the company next month.
Last week Wal-Mart said Rosalind Brewer, the CEO of Sam’s Club, would depart, putting chief merchandising officer John Furner into the role. On Friday, Mr. Furner told staff that two longtime Wal-Mart employees would join his ranks. Gisel Ruiz will become executive vice president of operations for Sam’s Club, and Ashley Buchanan, senior vice president of dry grocery for Wal-Mart, will become chief merchandising officer for Sam’s.
The retailer’s fiscal year ends Jan. 31, in part spurring the wave of announcements.
