Walmart is making organizational changes as it continues to integrate in-store and digital operations and leadership, according to CNBC.
“Our customers want one, seamless Walmart experience,” said CEO Doug McMillon in a memo obtained by CNBC. “Earning more of our customers’ business in food and consumables is foundational to our strategy, and, at the same time, we will expand our ability to serve them with general merchandise in stores and through our broad ecommerce assortment as we continue to invest and build our ecommerce business.”
The changes are a continuation of a long-term goal to bring together physical and digital operations, assets and leaders.
Recent high-profile hires include Suresh Kumar as Walmart’s chief technology officer and Janey Whiteside, who took a newly created role of chief customer officer after a long career at American Express. Kumar joined in May and has worked for Google and Amazon.
The biggest change is bringing the U.S. supply chain teams together, which will be led by Greg Smith, current executive vice president of Walmart U.S. supply chain. Smith will jointly report to Greg Foran, who runs Walmart’s U.S. stores, and Marc Lore, who runs Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce business.
Nate Faust is currently leading e-commerce fulfillment for Walmart, after joining the company as part of the Jet.com acquisition in 2016. Faust will assist with the integration of the new leadership teams before moving to a new, yet-to-be announced position within the organization.
Twelve other leaders from within have been named to the newly created U.S. supply chain leadership team.
Walmart is also bringing together the store and e-commerce finance teams. Walmart U.S. Chief Financial Officer Michael Dastugue will lead the team, and continue to report to Brett Biggs, Walmart’s chief financial officer. Steve Schmitt, currently the Sam’s Club chief financial officer, will become the new U.S. e-commerce chief financial officer supporting Lore’s team, and reporting to Dastugue.
Not every area is being integrated, however, to “enable focus and speed.”
“Our ecommerce sales growth, improving customer metrics and progress on contribution profit are encouraging, and we want to keep that going” McMillon said in the memo.
Walmart also recently opened its largest stand-alone grocery pickup and delivery center, which encompasses 40,000 square feet, in Illinois. The retailer has about 2,450 pickup locations and more than 900 pickup towers.