BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here said yesterday Doug McMillon, president and chief executive officer of Sam's Club for the past three years, has been named president and CEO of Wal-Mart International, the company's second largest operating segment, effective Feb. 1.

McMillon, 42, will succeed Mike Duke, who was previously named to succeed H. Lee Scott as chairman and CEO of Wal-Mart. The company said it would name a successor to the Sam's posts at a later date. Observers said they are not surprised by the management shifts.

“We've seen it happen at other companies that want a deep bench of talent so they move executives around to give them a wider array of experience,” Patricia Edwards, principal at Storehouse Partners, Seattle, told SN. “So at Wal-Mart you've had Eduardo Castro-Wright move from international to overseeing the U.S.; Mike Duke move from international to oversee the entire operation; and now Doug McMillon move from Sam's to international. Doug has done a good job turning Sam's around and now he's going to get more experience in a different business segment.”

Sam's, with 599 units, accounts for sales exceeding $44 billion; sales in the international division, encompassing more than 3,200 stores in 14 countries, accounts for nearly $100 billion.

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