Wal-Mart to Wall Street Dream Dies as Citadel Securities CEO Out

Kevin Turner left job just months after joining from Microsoft
He started as Wal-Mart cashier, moved up to Ken Griffin’s firm

Kevin Turner
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg

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By Annie Massa and Matthew Leising

January 27, 2017 at 10:04 PM UTC

Updated on

January 28, 2017 at 1:45 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Kevin Turner, who joined Citadel Securities as chief executive officer after a career that led from Wal-Mart cashier to the top-paying job at Microsoft Corp., is leaving the market-making firm just months after he was hired.

Peng Zhao, previously global head of market making, replaced Turner as CEO, said company spokesman Zia Ahmed. When it was announced in July that Turner was coming aboard, Zhao was promoted to chief scientist, a role created specifically for him. Zhao has worked at Citadel Securities since 2006.