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Doug McMillon Walmart CEO: Doug McMillon has been at the helm of Walmart for more than ten years. He plans to retire next year. The company confirmed the news on Friday.
John Furner will step into the role on February 1, 2026. He currently leads Walmart’s U.S. business as its CEO and president, which is the retailer’s biggest division.
Both McMillon and Furner have spent decades at Walmart. They have each served in several important leadership positions over the years.
The transition is happening at a challenging moment for the retail world. Tariffs and falling consumer confidence have been squeezing profits across the industry.
Even so, Walmart has sidestepped many of the problems dragging down its rivals. Its powerful supply chain and strong grocery business have helped it keep everyday essentials at very low prices.
That strategy continues to bring in shoppers from a wide range of income levels. In its latest earnings update, the company said its fastest-growing customer group is households earning more than $100,000 a year.
McMillon helped steer Walmart into the ecommerce era. He played a key role in turning the company into a genuine challenger to Amazon. This push also opened up a strong new growth channel for the retailer.
During his tenure, Walmart expanded its Walmart+ membership program. The service is still young, but it has started to position itself as an emerging alternative to Amazon Prime.
He also spent two years as chairman of the Business Roundtable. The organization brings together nearly 200 leading U.S. CEOs and is one of the most influential business groups in Washington.
Beyond growing Walmart’s business, he pushed for significant changes inside the company. In 2019, Walmart stopped selling handgun ammunition and rounds often used in military-style rifles.
The company also asked customers not to openly carry firearms in its stores. That move came after a tragic mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, that claimed 23 lives.
He later spoke out forcefully against the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was also a frequent critic of former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
McMillon also led Walmart through its $3 billion purchase of Jet.com. The deal was intended to give the company a premium alternative to Amazon, but it never lived up to expectations.
Jet.com was later shut down and absorbed into Walmart.com. His attempt to grow Walmart’s presence in upscale fashion, including the Bonobos brand, also fell short.
McMillon began his career as a store associate and worked his way up through the company. He held leadership roles at Sam’s Club and within Walmart’s international division before becoming CEO.
During his tenure, Walmart evolved into a true competitor to Amazon. The company’s stock has climbed 300% since he took the helm in 2014.
Greg Penner, the chairman of Walmart Inc., said the company and the Walton family have long believed Doug McMillon was the right person to lead Walmart at a critical time. He explained that McMillon drove a sweeping transformation across the business.
McMillon invested heavily in employees, strengthened Walmart’s digital and ecommerce operations, and updated its supply chain. Penner said these moves helped deliver strong and steady financial growth.
John Furner has been running Walmart’s 4,600 U.S. stores as CEO and president since 2019. He began his career with the company in 1993 as an hourly worker.
He later held important roles at Sam’s Club and Walmart China. The company credits him with strong employee development, digital upgrades, and consistent operational performance.
Walmart says McMillon will remain on the board until next June. He will also continue advising Furner through fiscal year 2027.
The company plans to announce the next CEO for Walmart’s U.S. business soon.
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