Behind Wal-Mart's Executive Shuffle
The retailing giant is moving John Fleming from the top marketing post to merchandising to heal the rift between the two divisions
This article is for subscribers only.
Wal-Mart's (WMT) shift of its top marketing officer to head its merchandising operations will help ease the deep tensions between the two divisions that have hurt the retailer's turnaround efforts.
The Bentonville (Ark.) discounter announced on Jan. 24 that John Fleming, 48, its chief marketing officer for the last two years, will become chief merchandising officer, a newly created post with expanded power over the goods Wal-Mart sells. Steven Quinn, 47, a senior vice-president within marketing who headed consumer research and strategy, was named Fleming's replacement as marketing chief.