Executive Briefing
Walmart is playing not to lose
And it’s probably the right move.
By Dan Frommer on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Walmart announced what sounds like an orderly CEO transition for its US business this week:
- Greg Foran, who has presided over its comeback over the past five years, is leaving in January to become the CEO of Air New Zealand — which, frankly, yes, that sounds fun, especially if you’re from New Zealand, as Foran is.
- Walmart’s new US CEO will be John Furner, who started with the company as an hourly employee in his late teens in 1993, was most recently the CEO of Sam’s Club, and has worked in a variety of executive roles at the company, including chief merchandising and marketing officer of Walmart China.
Who wasn’t named CEO: Marc Lore, the company’s US e-commerce CEO, whose startup, Jet.com, Walmart paid $3.3 billion for in 2016.
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