Walmart(US:WMT) Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-11-15 16:06Core Viewpoint - Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon will step down at the end of January 2024, surprising the market amid various challenges such as tariff impacts, weak consumer demand, and AI disruptions in retail [1][3]. Group 1: Leadership Change - Doug McMillon has led Walmart for over ten years and will be succeeded by John Furner, the current CEO of Walmart U.S., effective February 1, 2024 [3]. - McMillon will remain as a company advisor until January 2027 [3]. - This leadership transition occurs while Walmart is experiencing strong performance, with a total shareholder return exceeding 400% and a market capitalization increase of $576 billion during McMillon's tenure [3]. Group 2: Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Walmart's stock opened lower, initially dropping about 3.6% before closing down 0.06%, marking a two-day decline [1][3]. - Analysts express concern over the leadership change, as investors have been accustomed to stable leadership for over a decade [5]. Group 3: Future Outlook - Analysts believe that John Furner is a suitable choice to lead Walmart into a new phase of growth and transformation [5]. - The transition signifies the end of Walmart's focus on building a comprehensive digital foundation and the beginning of an era centered on AI transformation, which could span the next decade [5]. - McMillon has been credited with transforming Walmart into a digital powerhouse, integrating e-commerce, advertising, and membership services while improving employee wages and benefits [5].