Inside This Issue - News

Wal-Mart revamps health and wellness team

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The recent departure of vice president and divisional merchandise manager Chuck Fehlig has led Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to reorganize its health and wellness team.

Mark Larsen has been named vice president and general merchandise manager for health and wellness. Larsen, who joined Wal-Mart in 2000 after seven years with regional discounter Venture Stores Inc., most recently served as vice president and general merchandise manager for merchandise system transformation.

Jason Reiser has been promoted to senior category director of Wal-Mart’s wellness team. Reiser has been with Wal-Mart for more than 13 years, most recently as senior buyer for health and wellness at Sam’s Club.

Reiser will lead a cross-functional category team but does not oversee buying. Wal-Mart’s merchandising teams include buyers, category team assistants, planners, replenishment managers and order specialists, each with different functions.

For example, buyers have primary responsibility for managing Wal-Mart’s relationships with suppliers, gathering customer insights, developing category strategies and selecting item assortments.