Doug McMillon, who has led Walmart for greater than a decade and steered its transformation into an e-commerce powerhouse, will step down as CEO in early 2026. He might be succeeded by John Furner, persevering with the retailer’s custom of long-serving leaders and inside promotions.
Walmart shares fell by greater than 1 p.c at present (Nov. 14) in response to the information. McMillon, 59, will conclude a 40-year profession on the firm, having taken the highest job in 2014 after main Walmart Worldwide and Sam’s Membership. To make sure a clean transition, he’ll keep on as an advisor till 2027.
Furner, 51, will assume the position in February. Like McMillon, he’s spent many years at Walmart, beginning as an hourly affiliate within the Nineties earlier than turning into CEO of Sam’s Membership. He’s at present CEO of Walmart U.S., overseeing the corporate’s 4,600 shops throughout America.
Furner will inherit a excessive bar. Beneath McMillon, Walmart’s share value rose greater than 300 p.c. McMillon “was uniquely certified to be CEO on the obligatory time for Walmart,” stated Greg Penner, the corporate’s chairman, in a press release. “Doug led a complete transition by investing in our associates, advancing our digital and e-commerce capabilities, and modernizing our provide chain, leading to sustained, sturdy monetary efficiency.”
Going through the rise of Amazon, McMillon made a decisive push into the net retail sector. Walmart ramped up its tech investments and purchased Jet.com for $3 billion in 2016. The deal helped speed up its e-commerce ambitions, though Jet.com was wound down in 2020.
McMillon additionally made a serious guess on Walmart’s workforce. A decade in the past, he launched a $2.7 billion plan to spice up wages and growth packages, aiming to make Walmart a people-first firm. The technique paid off: beginning wages rose 93 p.c, and three.5 million associates participated in abilities coaching by Walmart’s growth initiatives.
5 CEOs in Walmart’s 63-year historical past
Furner might be Walmart’s sixth CEO in its 63-year historical past. Walmart’s first retailer opened in Rogers, Ark., in 1962 below founder Sam Walton, who led the corporate till 1988. Throughout his tenure, Walton oversaw Walmart’s preliminary public providing in 1970 and fast enlargement of low cost shops throughout the U.S.
Walton was succeeded by David Glass, whose 12-year tenure emphasised including grocery merchandise and increasing the Sam’s Membership membership program. Lee Scott adopted in 2000, spending eight years launching sustainability initiatives and strengthening worldwide operations. He was succeeded in 2008 by Mike Duke, who continued Walmart’s international enlargement and pushed the retailer deeper into abroad markets till stepping down in 2014.
Walmart’s subsequent section might be a fragile one for Furner to handle. The retailer is navigating a unstable financial setting formed by the Trump administration’s tariff coverage, which has already compelled Walmart to lift costs. Furner may also be liable for guiding Walmart into the A.I. period, as the corporate expands its use of the expertise throughout workforce coaching, provide chain optimization, and numerous inside and consumer-facing instruments.
“Serving as Walmart’s CEO has been a terrific honor and I’m grateful to our Board and the Walton household for the chance,” stated McMillon in a press release. Noting that he’s labored alongside Furner for greater than twenty years, the outgoing CEO praised his successor as “uniquely able to main the corporate by this subsequent A.I.-driven transformation.”
