Executive Briefing

Walmart is playing not to lose

And it’s probably the right move.

John Furner
Courtesy Walmart

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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Dan Frommer

Hi, I’m Dan Frommer and this is The New Consumer, a publication about how and why people spend their time and money.

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