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Greg Foran

John Furner named to lead Walmart U.S.

John Furner named to lead Walmart U.S.

BENTONVILLE — Walmart said Thursday that John Furner will become the president and chief executive officer of Walmart U.S., effective November 1. John Furner Furner, who currently serves as president and CEO of Sam’s Club, will succeed Greg Foran, who has led Walmart U.S. for five years. Foran is leaving Walmart to become CEO at

Walmart pilot seeks to shift the health care paradigm

Walmart pilot seeks to shift the health care paradigm

When Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Ark., in 1962, he set in motion an enterprise that fundamentally transformed the way Americans shop, giving them convenient access to high-quality consumer products at the lowest possible price. Now, 57 years later, the company has embarked on a pilot test to apply the principles

Walmart wraps up shareholders’ week

Walmart wraps up shareholders’ week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Walmart wrapped up its annual shareholders’ week activities on Friday with a celebration of the company’s associates as “extraordinary people doing extraordinary things.” Brett Biggs, executive vice president and chief financial officer, credited Walmart’s 2.2 million associates worldwide with helping fulfill founder Sam Walton’s vision for Walmart as a merchant serving the

Walmart ‘moving with speed to win with customer’

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The growing convergence of its physical and digital assets has put Walmart in the retail sector’s sweet spot, according to company executives. “We have good momentum in the business, we’re executing our strategy and moving with speed to win with the customer, who is more connected than ever and embracing tools that

Report: Walmart reorganizes executive ranks

Report: Walmart reorganizes executive ranks

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart reportedly is realigning its top management to have several executives oversee both online and in-store operations. Chief marketing officer Tony Rogers will now take on online and digital marketing efforts, including for Jet.com, according to an internal company memo cited by The Wall Street Journal. Jeremy King, head of the WalmartLabs

Walmart 3Q earnings top Wall Street’s forecast

Walmart 3Q earnings top Wall Street’s forecast

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart’s third quarter earnings beat analysts’ expectations, but its sales fell slightly short, dampened by food deflation and unfavorable foreign exchange rates. The company earned $3.03 billion, or 98 cents a share, during the quarter, down from $1.03 per share a year ago. Analysts, on average, had projected earnings of 96 cents

Walmart’s McMillon: ‘Our mission is clear’

Walmart’s McMillon: ‘Our mission is clear’

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Walmart used its 2016 shareholders meeting to drive home the message that the customer is boss and the key to the retailer’s ability to grow. “Our mission is clear,” Doug McMillon, Walmart’s president and chief executive officer, said at the June 3 Walmart annual shareholders meeting. “We save customers money so they

Rogers succeeds Quinn as Walmart marketing chief

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has named a new chief marketing officer to take the place of the outgoing Stephen Quinn. As of this month, Tony Rogers will return to the company’s Bentonville headquarters from China, where he has served as Walmart’s chief marketing officer for the past two years ­managing traditional, digital and social media

Walmart names Rogers chief marketing officer

Walmart names Rogers chief marketing officer

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Tony Rogers reportedly has been appointed as chief marketing officer at Walmart. Published reports said Friday that Rogers, a 10-year company veteran who has been CMO of Walmart China for the past two years, succeeds Stephen Quinn, who is retiring. Plans call for Rogers to start his new job in mid-January. Quinn

Bratspies named chief merchant at Walmart

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart named new head merchants for its Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club divisions, and designated a successor to its chief financial officer, who is retiring. Steve Bratspies, who most recently served as executive vice president of food for Walmart U.S., has taken the reins as chief merchandising officer of the division. In

Walmart names new chief merchant for U.S. stores

Walmart names new chief merchant for U.S. stores

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has promoted Steve Bratspies to chief merchandising officer for Walmart U.S., the retail giant’s largest business unit. Bratspies currently serves as executive vice president of food for Walmart U.S. The company said Friday that Bratspies is slated to take the reins as chief merchandising officer for U.S. stores on Oct. 19.

Walmart, Fred’s cite Rx headwinds for profit squeeze

NEW YORK — The world’s biggest retailer and a regional discount chain have attributed pressure on profits to trends in the prescription drug business. Walmart and Memphis, Tenn.-based Fred’s Inc. said lower pharmacy margins had eaten into second quarter earnings and pointed to lower reimbursements and a drop in cash customers as a result of

Walmart: ‘Our people make the difference’

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The spotlight was on Walmart’s workers, or associates, at the company’s annual shareholders meeting early this month here. Walmart president and chief executive officer Doug McMillon, speaking before a crowd of 14,000 at the Bud Walton arena, told associates that “you are our heros,” and said they would be the key to

First-quarter results portend challenging year

First-quarter results portend challenging year

The fiscal first quarter of 2015 is in the books for many of the largest retailers, and the results tend to bear out the idea that the current year will be one of struggle and uncertainty despite signs that the economy is rebounding from the recession that plagued it so sorely in recent years. The

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