Walmart Board of Directors Nominates Google Exec

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s board of directors has nominated Marissa A. Mayer of Google Inc. for election as a new member of the company’s board at the Bentonville, Ark.-based Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on June 1. If elected, Mayer would become the board’s 16th member.

“At Walmart, we are focused on giving our millions of customers around the globe ‘anytime anywhere’ access, whether it is through a mobile device, online or in a physical store,” noted Walmart chairman Rob Walton. “We are on the cusp of a massive transformation in the way people shop in our increasingly connected world. Marissa’s insights and expertise in the technology and consumer areas are valuable assets to Walmart as we move forward.”

“I have long been a customer and admirer of the company,” said Mayer, who has been VP of local and maps for Mountain View, Calif.-based Google since 2010. “Walmart is an amazing story of entrepreneurship and, as one of the world’s most powerful brands, touches millions of lives every day.”

At Google, Mayer heads the product management and engineering efforts of the company’s local, mobile and local-based products. She was previously Google’s VP, search products and user experience, beginning in 2005. Mayer began her career with the company in 1999 as its first female engineer and has launched hundreds of products and features since that time.

With 10,130 retail units under 69 banners in 27 countries, Walmart employs about 2.2 million associates worldwide.