Sponsored By

Walmart names McKenna U.S. COO

Wal-Mart Stores on Wednesday said that Judith McKenna has been promoted to COO of Walmart U.S., succeeding Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed EVP of Walmart International.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

December 10, 2014

3 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

Wal-Mart Stores on Wednesday said that Judith McKenna has been promoted to COO of Walmart U.S., succeeding Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed EVP of Walmart International.

The appointments are effective immediately, and continue the rapid churn at the senior levels of the retailer’s U.S. operations. That division, still struggling to keep up the sales pace of competitors like Costco and Kroger, replaced CEO Bill Simon in August, and last month saw chief merchant Duncan Mac Naughton resign amid a merchandising shakeup.

Judith McKenna

McKenna, who had been serving as chief development officer for Walmart U.S., will report directly to U.S. CEO Greg Foran. McKenna joined Walmart nearly 20 years ago in its Asda division in her native U.K., eventually serving as Asda’s CFO and COO. McKenna also served Walmart International as EVP of strategy and international development.

At Walmart U.S., McKenna’s initiatives included the development of the newly opened Grocery Pickup facility, which was based on Asda’s success operating similar vehicles in the U.K. As chief operating officer, McKenna will lead a team of 1.3 million associates. She will also continue to lead Walmart’s small format stores, development of new formats, expansion of Walmart services and the integration of digital commerce into the retailer’s existing U.S. stores.

“At her core and by experience, Judith is a retailer who has made major contributions to our business throughout her career,” Foran said in a statement. “It’s exciting to bring her skills in managing store operations, small format growth, logistics and e-commerce to an expanded role in our U.S. operations. Her knowledge of global best practices and her success in leading our associates around the world will help drive our Walmart U.S. business forward.”

Gisel Ruiz

Ruiz started as a management trainee and gained a depth of experience across key roles in labor relations, operations and human resources. Most recently as COO for Walmart U.S., Ruiz led the retailer’s focus on improving operational efficiencies, opened more than 400 new U.S. stores, and increased representation of women and people of color across operations leadership roles. As EVP of Walmart’s International People Division, Ruiz will be a key member of CEO David Cheesewright’s leadership team.

CONNECT WITH SN ON FACEBOOK

Like the Supermarket News page for updates throughout the day.

“Gisel is an inspirational leader who has consistently contributed to Walmart’s growth and success throughout her 22 years with the company. Her proven track record and unwavering commitment to our associates make her the perfect choice for this new role,” said Cheesewright. “The expertise and leadership that Gisel brings are needed as we take our International Division to the next level. I’m looking forward to the impact she’ll have on our associates and business around the world.”

 

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like