Walmart Promotes John Furner to CEO, Doug McMillon Retires
Walmart's board elected John Furner to succeed Doug McMillon as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 1, 2026, and Furner was added to the company's board immediately. McMillon will retire on January 31, 2026, remain on the board until the next annual shareholders meeting, and advise Furner through January 31, 2027, a transition the company says is intended to preserve continuity for associates and operations.
Walmart announced on November 14 that its board elected John Furner to become President and Chief Executive Officer on February 1, 2026. The company said Doug McMillon will retire on January 31, 2026, but will continue to serve on the board until the next annual shareholders meeting and will advise Furner through January 31, 2027 to support a smooth transition. The board made Furner a member of the Board of Directors effective immediately.
Furner comes to the top job after serving as President and CEO of Walmart U.S. He joined Walmart in 1993 as an hourly associate and has held leadership roles across merchandising, operations and sourcing, including leadership of Sam's Club. In its announcement the company emphasized Furner's deep operational experience and framed the move as a planned succession intended to continue Walmart's existing strategy.
The company said it will name Furner's successor to lead Walmart U.S. before the end of fiscal year 2026. The company also released media assets including photographs and short video clips as part of the announcement, and the release included statements from board leadership endorsing Furner. Financial news outlets have reported market and analyst reaction to the change, underscoring investor interest in leadership continuity at the world's largest retailer.
For hourly associates, store managers and field leaders, the leadership transition matters because it shapes corporate strategy, people priorities and the tone that flows from headquarters to stores. Furner's career rooted in store operations and his time running Sam's Club suggest an executive focused on the practical demands of day to day retail running and on initiatives that affect front line execution. McMillon's remaining board role and year long advisory period are intended to reduce disruption and provide continuity as new priorities and personnel decisions are put in place.
The change at the top also sets up a separate leadership search for Walmart U.S. that will be closely watched by employees and managers who look to national leadership for guidance on pay, scheduling, training and capital allocation for stores. The company will aim to limit operational upheaval while clarifying any strategic shifts that a new chief executive might emphasize.
As the transition unfolds through early 2027, associates should expect company communications about the Walmart U.S. succession and any updates to corporate initiatives. The board framed the move as a forward looking step that preserves institutional knowledge while elevating a leader with long experience in store level operations.
