13May2011
Walmart Realigns Merchandising
An internal memo today from Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., has set forth several changes and personnel movements within the company.
–Debra Layton has been promoted to senior vp – store formats, layouts and space productivity, a new merchandising strategic business unit. She joined Walmart in 1986 as a part-time hourly associate, and has held various positions in Walmart U.S. Operations, Merchandising and Store Planning, as well as in International roles that included sourcing, technical services and most recently as the Chief Merchandising Officer for Walmart Chile. Layton will report to Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer.
–Jay Mitchael, vp of store layout and space productivity, and the store layout team will move to the store formats, layouts and space productivity strategic business unit, reporting to Layton. The proto and non-proto architectural, mechanical and systems/engineering functions will remain in Real Estate under the direction of Rob Bray, vp – real estate, design and construction.
David Redfield has been promoted to vp — Store Formats, and will continue to manage Neighborhood Markets. He will assume the added responsibility for other small formats, including the Walmart Express, and will report to Layton.
To allow for greater focus on the Walmart Express format, Anthony Hucker, vp – Strategy and Business Development and the Walmart Express team will move to the new Store Formats, Layouts and Space Productivity strategic business unit. Hucker will report to Redfield.
The merchandising and operations of the Walmart Express project will move to Merchandising while the design and construction elements of this and all other formats will remain in Real Estate. Carl Muller, vp – real estate and strategy, will assume responsibility for mergers and acquisitions, research, strategy and field support functions, as well as management of the Real Estate Committee process. Consumer Services and New Business Development will report to Rick Kinnard, vp — Realty, Disposition and Appraisal.
In order to accelerate the focus on elevating operational standards and processes within the Mountain division, Walmart is making alignment changes within Regions 46 and 47.
Effective immediately, New Mexico will join Arizona as part of Region 46. Region 47 will now include the states of Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Regions 48 and 49 in the Mountain Division will not be impacted by this change.
With these realignments, Scott Doepke has been promoted to vp and regional general manager of Region 46. A regional general manager for Region 47 will be announced at a later date.
