By Lauren Pollock
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has promoted Judith McKenna to be chief
operating officer for its U.S. stores, succeeding Gisel Ruiz, who
has been named executive vice president of the retail giant's
international people division.
Ms. McKenna's appointment comes amid several personnel changes
at the top of Wal-Mart's U.S. business, which makes up nearly 60%
of the company's $476 billion in sales. The division has been
struggling to boost sales during two straight years of declining
shopper traffic.
In her new role, Ms. McKenna will lead a team of 1.3 million
associates and will continue to direct Walmart's small format
stores, development of new formats, expansion of services and the
integration of digital commerce. She was most recently chief
development officer.
Ms. McKenna joined Walmart nearly 20 years ago as part of its
Asda leadership team in the U.K. and later moved to Walmart
International as executive vice president of strategy and
international development. She will continue to report to Walmart
U.S. CEO Greg Foran.
Ms. Ruiz, meanwhile, will drive the company's international
human resources strategy.
Wal-Mart said last month that its chief merchandising officer
was leaving the retailer just days before the annual Black Friday
shopping frenzy.
That departure was expected to allow Mr. Foran to restructure
the U.S. operation as Wal-Mart tries to fix a problem that has
dogged it for years: stocking products that will attract more
shoppers into its stores. Wal-Mart doesn't plan to name a new chief
merchant and executives in charge of food, general merchandise,
apparel and several other business lines will report to directly to
Mr. Foran.
A New Zealander who had never worked in the U.S., Mr. Foran
assumed the top U.S. post in July. He is a veteran of Australian
retail who joined Wal-Mart about three years ago and previously
headed its Asian operations.
Among the changes afoot at Wal-Mart's U.S. stores, the company
is slowing the expansion of its giant supercenters and moving into
e-commerce and smaller-format grocery stores.
Write to Lauren Pollock at lauren.pollock@wsj.com
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