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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart U.S. president and chief executive officer John Furner this month announced a number of personnel moves, including the promotion of Tom Ward to executive vice president and chief e-commerce officer.
Ward will succeed Casey Carl, who recently announced he was leaving the company.
Furner announced Ward’s promotion in an internal memo dated January 20.
Ward assumes his new role at the start of Walmart’s fiscal year, on February 1, according to the memo.
Carl, who came to Walmart in September 2020, departs at the end of the month.
“During his time at Walmart, Casey led Walmart’s omnichannel agenda and helped grow the business,” Furner said. Casey has been a passionate advocate for our sellers and led the work to define and implement our seller value proposition, which has led to strong growth in our third-party marketplace and Walmart Fulfillment Services. I have appreciated Casey’s contributions to the Walmart U.S. business.”
Ward arrived at Walmart U.S. in 2015 from U.K. grocery operator Asda (which Walmart then owned) to launch the retailer’s training academies. Ward subsequently occupied roles of senior vice president of customer product and senior vice president of digital operations, online grocery and last-mile delivery.
In his new role, Ward will oversee Walmart.com site operations, marketplace, Walmart fulfillment services, omni returns and pickup and delivery.
Among other moves, Charles Redfield was named to succeed Scott McCall as chief merchandising officer for Walmart U.S.
McCall is retiring after more than a quarter-century with the company. A University of Arkansas graduate, McCall began his career with Walmart as an hourly management trainee in Grenada, Miss. McCall moved to Bentonville for a job as a merchandise buyer.
Prior to his promotion, Redfield had been serving as executive vice president of food at Walmart U.S.
“Charles is well prepared for this role, having previously served as chief merchant at Asda and Sam’s Club and having led our U.S. grocery business the past six years,” Furner said in a January 14 memo announcing the promotion. “He began his retail career 34 years ago as a Sam’s Club cashier.”
The memo also revealed that Janey Whiteside, executive vice president and chief customer officer for Walmart U.S., plans to leave the company in March to “start her next chapter in New York with her family.”
Walmart recruited Whiteside from American Express in 2018 to fill the newly created position of chief customer officer, a title that came with a mandate to build innovative services and solutions that help customers live better.
“She spearheaded rethinking our business through the eyes of an omnichannel customer,” Furner said. “That journey led to significant progress for the customer, including the move to one app and website, and the design and launch of our first membership program, Walmart+ [membership program]. Janey also launched Walmart Connect [the company’s advertising platform], established our product team, reshaped our financial services business and created a new look and feel for stores, which is rolling out now nationwide. While we are sad to see her go, we respect her decision and wish her all the best.”
And Furner said Jennifer Jackson, senior vice president of enterprise strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, is now overseeing Walmart’s incubation arm, Store No. 8.
