Walmart Inc. Reshuffles Executive Council: David Guggina Named CEO of Walmart U.S.

Walmart Inc. has announced a significant restructuring of its Executive Council, electing a new slate of leaders to guide the retail giant into its next phase of growth. The changes, effective 1 February 2026, were unveiled by incoming President and CEO John Furner.

The reshuffle is designed to centralise enterprise platforms and "fuel innovation," specifically addressing the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into the retail landscape.

Strategic Rationale: Centralisation and AI

The reorganisation reflects a shift in how Walmart organises for the future. By centralising key platforms, the company aims to accelerate shared capabilities while freeing up operating segments to focus closer on the customer.

John Furner, Incoming President and CEO, explained the structural shift:

"These leadership changes also mark a key step in how we organise for the future. Even the best teams need the right structure to win. As AI rapidly reshapes retail, we are centralising our platforms to accelerate shared capabilities, freeing up our operating segments to be more focused on and closer to our customers and members."

Key Leadership Appointments

The board has approved the following high-profile promotions, leveraging deep internal talent to fill critical roles:

🛍️ David Guggina appointed President and CEO of Walmart U.S.
- Previous Role: EVP and Chief eCommerce Officer for Walmart U.S.
- Mandate: Guggina is credited with building the company's industry-leading delivery network (serving 95% of households in under three hours). His background in supply chain and eCommerce positions him to drive the omnichannel strategy.

🌍 Chris Nicholas appointed President and CEO of Walmart International.
- Previous Role: President and CEO of Sam’s Club U.S.
- Mandate: Succeeding Kath McLay, Nicholas brings global operational experience, having lived and worked in over 10 countries. He previously served as CFO for both Walmart U.S. and International divisions.

🛒 Latriece Watkins appointed President and CEO of Sam’s Club U.S.
- Previous Role: EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer for Walmart U.S.
- Mandate: A company veteran who started as an intern in 1997, Watkins is tasked with leading the warehouse club division, leveraging her extensive background in merchandising and store operations.

📈 Seth Dallaire appointed EVP and Chief Growth Officer for Walmart Inc.
- Previous Role: EVP and Chief Growth Officer for Walmart U.S.
- Mandate: In this new enterprise-wide role, Dallaire will oversee global platforms including Walmart Connect (advertising), Walmart+, Walmart Data Ventures, Vizio, and Sam’s Club MAP.

Furner emphasised the strength of the internal pipeline: "Over my 32 years with Walmart, I’ve seen that our people are our greatest competitive advantage. These internal promotions reflect our culture of opportunity and the depth of our leadership bench."