(David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
January 16, 2026 9:26 AM, EST
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Walmart Inc. appointed new heads for its three main divisions, setting the stage for a new generation of leadership before the incoming top boss takes the reins in a couple of weeks.
David Guggina, who has been the chief e-commerce officer of Walmart U.S., has been promoted to CEO of the division — the company’s biggest and most important business.
John Furner, who has held that job for about six years, was named top boss of the company in conjunction with the retirement of outgoing CEO Doug McMillon.
Guggina joined Walmart from Amazon.com Inc. about eight years ago, quickly moving up through the ranks at the retail chain. He has led the online business in the U.S. since last January after running supply chain operations.
By broadening delivery areas and cutting shipping costs, the digital business has been fueling growth in the U.S. and is reaching profitability.
He is tasked with leading the unit that generates hundreds of billions of dollars in sales against the backdrop of discerning shoppers, weakening consumer sentiment and persistent woes about the job market.
Competition continues to be fierce in the U.S., with peers Costco Wholesale Corp., Target Corp. and Aldi Inc. investing to keep prices low and improve shopping experiences. Amazon has been increasingly encroaching on Walmart’s turf, signaling its intent to further expand its physical footprint and grocery offerings.
“A key part of maintaining our momentum is making sure we have the right structure to win,” Furner wrote in a memo to staff, adding that the company is making changes to increase efficiency and allow divisions to focus more on customers.
Walmart is entering a consequential period of change as McMillon retires at the end of the month. He is credited with transforming the company into a digital powerhouse from a brick-and-mortar retailer.
The Bentonville, Ark.-based company is now racing to get ahead of the artificial intelligence race, incorporating the technology across operations including shopping. Its market capitalization is inching toward $1 trillion — a first for a U.S. retailer — on the heels of strong growth and tech investments.
The company also named Latriece Watkins, chief merchant for Walmart U.S., as the CEO of Sam’s Club. The club chain is opening new stores and remodeling existing locations in the U.S., as it seeks to grow its membership and compete against bigger rival Costco.
Chris Nicholas, chief of Sam’s Club, will now serve as the boss of Walmart International. China, India and Mexico are among the markets driving growth for the international business. He is succeeding Kathryn McLay, who is leaving the company. She was once viewed as a potential successor to McMillon.
Elsewhere, Seth Dallaire has been promoted to chief growth officer for the company. He has led advertising, membership and other non-retail units at Walmart U.S. He will also help guide expansion strategies for Walmart’s marketplace business. Those businesses are helping fuel profit growth.
All changes are effective Feb. 1.
Walmart is set to join the Nasdaq 100 Index next week after moving its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange in December.
Walmart ranks No. 1 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private carriers in North America.
