BENTONVILLE, AR - Greg Foran, current President and CEO of Walmart U.S., has passed his baton off to John Furner, current Sam’s Club President and CEO. Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon will be welcoming Furner under his wing starting on November 1.
“Greg Foran has made a huge difference for Walmart, and we are grateful,” said McMillon. “He built a strong plan from the beginning to strengthen the U.S. business—a plan that made significant choices around investing in wages and benefits for associates and investing in price for customers. Greg’s ability to innovate, whether it’s making our stores a competitive advantage in an omnichannel environment or equipping associates with next generation technology and training, has helped position us for the future. The results have been impressive—every quarter, he led Walmart U.S., it has had positive comps. Before leading us to a stronger position in the U.S., he did the same thing in China. We will miss Greg and thank him for his leadership. He has made a difference for our customers, associates, and shareholders.”
According to a press release, Foran will be taking on the role of CEO at Air New Zealand Limited, but will stay on with Walmart through January 31 to ensure a smooth transition with Furner. Foran first joined Walmart in October 2011 and has served as CEO of Walmart U.S. since August 2014.
“It has been an honor to lead the team at Walmart U.S.,” said Foran. “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve at a unique moment for retail and want to thank the associates who made it happen. It is bittersweet to leave Walmart, but this incredible opportunity to lead an iconic Kiwi brand was one I could not pass up, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter.”
Furner started with Walmart as an hourly associate back in 1993, and eventually worked his way up through a number of frontline leadership roles, later becoming a store manager, district manager, and buyer. He has held leadership roles in operations, merchandising, and sourcing in Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club, and Walmart International, where he served at Walmart China as Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer. Furner has also held the CMO position for Sam’s Club before taking on President and CEO in 2017. Furner will partner with Walmart U.S. E-Commerce CEO Marc Lore, who also reports to McMillon, to deliver a seamless omnichannel experience for Walmart’s U.S. customers.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity and ready to get started,” said Furner. “There’s no better place than Walmart U.S. to touch the lives of millions of customers and associates. Together with the team, we will build on the progress under Greg’s leadership and continue to make Walmart an even better place to work and shop. I also want to thank the Sam’s Club team. My years with you have been amazing.”
Based off of his extensive experience, it looks like Walmart will be in good hands.
“John has done a fantastic job at Sam’s Club, and he will continue the momentum we have in Walmart U.S.,” continued McMillon. “John knows our business well, having held many different jobs in the company over more than 25 years, and he is helping transform it for the future. He has the experience and judgment to know what we should continue doing and what we should change. He embraces technology and new ways of working, and he keeps our customers and Sam’s Club members at the center of everything we do, while delivering results for the business. I look forward to seeing his impact for our customers and associates in Walmart U.S.”
No announcements have been made as of yet in regards to the successor for Furner at Sam's Club, but AndNowUKnow will keep you updated.
