Walmart(US:WMT) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-11-14 19:20Core Viewpoint - Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon will step down at the end of January 2024, surprising the market amid challenges such as tariff impacts, weak consumer demand, and AI disruption in retail [1][3][4] Leadership Transition - McMillon will officially leave on January 31, 2024, with John Furner, the current CEO of Walmart U.S., taking over on February 1, 2024 [3][4] - Furner will be the fifth CEO since founder Sam Walton, and McMillon will remain as a consultant until January 2027 [3][4] - The transition comes just days before Walmart's quarterly earnings report, with the stock up 13% year-to-date due to digital business growth [4] McMillon's Tenure Achievements - Under McMillon's leadership, Walmart's total shareholder return increased by over 400%, and the market capitalization rose by $576 billion, with annual revenue surpassing $680 billion [3][7] - McMillon focused on raising hourly wages, investing in store and digital transformation, and acquiring Jet.com for $3.3 billion to enhance e-commerce capabilities [7][8] - He also divested non-core assets and launched initiatives like Walmart+ and retail media to improve profitability [8] Challenges for Furner - Furner inherits a company facing inflationary pressures on core customers and competition from Amazon and discount retailers like Aldi [8][9] - The rise of AI technology poses both opportunities and challenges, requiring Furner to navigate the evolving retail landscape [9][10] - Furner is expected to maintain Walmart's competitive edge while addressing criticisms regarding employee compensation and benefits [9]