Walmart U.S. realigns merchant exec structure

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/10/2010 11:44:11 AM

Bentonville, Ark. -- Electing to continue without a chief merchandising officer (since the August 1 departure of top merchandiser John Fleming), Walmart's biggest division has instead reorganized its top merchant ranks into a four-section structure reporting to Walmart U.S. president and ceo Bill Simon.

In a Sept. 3 memo to all associates, titled "We are Merchants," Simon said the division will go forward organized into "four core merchandising areas, each led by seasoned merchants." He said the new structure "aligns similar categories and allows us to be even more competitive in each customer channel, improving how we target and localize merchandise."

The merchants - each an executive vp - and their responsibility areas:

• John Westling, evp general merchandise and replenishment;
• Jack Sinclair, evp food;
• Andy Barron, evp softlines;
• Duncan MacNaughton, evp, consumables, health and wellness, and Walmart.com.

Of the four, Sinclair is continuing in his current role. Westling shifts into a role similar to that of his most recent post of evp replenishment, pricing and planning.

Barron is newly promoted from his most recent stint as senior vp store merchandising execution.
MacNaughton arrives from Walmart Canada, where he was chief merchandising officer.

"For now, they will report to me, allowing me to stay close as they thoughtfully look at our merchandising opportunities," Simon stated.

Karen Stuckey remains svp of home, now reporting to Andy Barron.