Wal-Mart shuffles execs

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/20/2001 12:00:00 AM

Bentonville, AR — Cross-pollination in the management ranks is a time-honored tradition at Wal-Mart, and often flags the senior managers being groomed for bigger roles in the future. Today the company announced new positions for eight men who could ultimately become the next generation of leaders.

Robert Connolly, executive vp, general merchandise, Wal-Mart Stores division, is now executive vp, marketing and consumer communications for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. He will replace Paul Higham, senior vp, marketing and consumer communications, who will retire in January.

Don Harris, executive vp and coo of U.S. store operations, is now executive vp, general merchandise, Wal-Mart Stores division.

Doug Degn, executive vp, food merchandise, will assume the additional responsibility of overseeing consumable product categories, and Ron Hoyt, senior vp over the consumable program will now report to Degn.

Jim Haworth, executive vp, operations, U.S. Sam's Club division, is now executive vp and coo of Wal-Mart store operations.

Greg Spragg, regional vp for Sam's Club operations in the western U.S., is now senior vp, U.S. Sam's Club operations.

Greg Johnston, regional vp of Sam's Club operations in the Southeast, will replace Spragg.

Don Nickens, a field-based market manager for Sam's Club overseeing the Tampa and Atlanta markets, will replace Johnston.

Michael Heintzman, Sam's Club vp/gmm for dry and fresh food products, is now senior vp for dry and fresh food.