Wal-Mart Names Chief of Global Procurement; Shifts Several Key Execs
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday it has promoted Lawrence Jackson, who was previously e.v.p. of its people division, to president and c.e.o. of its global procurement division. Jackson will continue to report to president and c.e.o. Lee Scott.
Wal-Mart's global procurement division has purchasing offices in 28 countries around the world and an ethical standards team responsible for ensuring that factories producing goods for Wal-Mart operate according to local labor laws or Wal-Mart standards, whichever are more stringent.
"In this position, Lawrence will play a critical role in powering Wal-Mart's growth and business leadership," Scott said in a statement. "Global procurement will be key to improving the customer experience around the world through better merchandise and lower prices."
Jackson joined Wal-Mart in 2004 from Dollar General Corp., where he was president and c.o.o. He has also worked for Safeway Inc. and PepsiCo.
Wal-Mart also announced a number of other promotions and senior leadership moves:
-- Susan Chambers, previously e.v.p. of risk management and benefits administration, is being promoted to e.v.p. of the people division.
-- Linda Dillman, previously e.v.p. and chief information officer, will become e.v.p. of risk management and benefits administration. She will also lead the company's sustainability efforts.
-- Rollin Ford, previously e.v.p. of logistics and supply chain, will become e.v.p. and chief information officer, responsible for leading the company's global information systems division.
-- Johnnie Dobbs, previously s.v.p. of logistics, overseeing distribution centers in the eastern United States and specialty distribution, has been promoted to e.v.p. of logistics and supply chain.
Dillman, Ford, and Dobbs will report to Wal-Mart vice chairman John Menzer.
"These leaders are people of great capacity, and [these] changes reflect a long history at Wal-Mart of what Sam Walton used to call 'cross-pollenization,'" said Scott, who himself moved from logistics to merchandising to store operations within the company. "They are good examples of Wal-Mart's commitment to developing a strong bench, with talent ready to step up and lead this company into the future."
Wal-Mart's global procurement division has purchasing offices in 28 countries around the world and an ethical standards team responsible for ensuring that factories producing goods for Wal-Mart operate according to local labor laws or Wal-Mart standards, whichever are more stringent.
"In this position, Lawrence will play a critical role in powering Wal-Mart's growth and business leadership," Scott said in a statement. "Global procurement will be key to improving the customer experience around the world through better merchandise and lower prices."
Jackson joined Wal-Mart in 2004 from Dollar General Corp., where he was president and c.o.o. He has also worked for Safeway Inc. and PepsiCo.
Wal-Mart also announced a number of other promotions and senior leadership moves:
-- Susan Chambers, previously e.v.p. of risk management and benefits administration, is being promoted to e.v.p. of the people division.
-- Linda Dillman, previously e.v.p. and chief information officer, will become e.v.p. of risk management and benefits administration. She will also lead the company's sustainability efforts.
-- Rollin Ford, previously e.v.p. of logistics and supply chain, will become e.v.p. and chief information officer, responsible for leading the company's global information systems division.
-- Johnnie Dobbs, previously s.v.p. of logistics, overseeing distribution centers in the eastern United States and specialty distribution, has been promoted to e.v.p. of logistics and supply chain.
Dillman, Ford, and Dobbs will report to Wal-Mart vice chairman John Menzer.
"These leaders are people of great capacity, and [these] changes reflect a long history at Wal-Mart of what Sam Walton used to call 'cross-pollenization,'" said Scott, who himself moved from logistics to merchandising to store operations within the company. "They are good examples of Wal-Mart's commitment to developing a strong bench, with talent ready to step up and lead this company into the future."