Wal-Mart's Menzer Adds Duties

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/9/2007 12:00:00 AM

Bentonville, Ark. —

Wal-Mart Stores recently announced that vice chairman John Menzer will assume the responsibilities of chief administrative officer, solidifying his leadership of corporate strategic planning and many company-wide support functions.

"This will enable John to take a more active role in global procurement, an area of increasing strategic importance which John assumed in January," said Lee Scott, president and ceo of Wal-Mart Stores. "He will play a critical role in leading our global procurement efforts which are key to improving the customer experience around the world through better merchandise and lower prices. Additionally, John will focus his time and attention on expanding our growing financial services business to benefit the underserved."

Also, Eduardo Castro-Wright, president and ceo of Wal-Mart Stores - U.S.A., who had previously reported to Menzer, will now report directly to Scott.

This latter move puts all three of the company's operating divisions — Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and International — directly under Scott.

"Under the leadership of Eduardo and his team this year, Wal-Mart Stores in the U.S. underwent more change in a shorter period of time than at any point in our history, while achieving record financial results," said Scott. "It makes sense that the company's largest operation reports to the ceo directly."