Dive Brief:
- After a little over a year in the position, Chief Merchandising Officer of Walmart U.S Charles Redfield is exiting the company, according to information sent to Retail Dive.
- Redfield, who has been with the company for 32 years, is leaving in June to spend more time with his family, John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., wrote in a memo to U.S.-based associates regarding the departure.
- Redfield will begin an advisory role with Walmart starting May 1. The company did not answer questions from Retail Dive regarding his successor.
Dive Insight:
After three decades, Redfield is leaving Walmart.
Redfield replaced Scott McCall, who retired from the chief merchant position in January 2022.
Redfield started his career with the retailer as a cashier at Sam’s Club while attending college at the University of Arkansas. There he was roommates with Walmart Chief Executive Doug McMillon, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Redfield went on to become an assistant manager with Sam’s Club and progressed to further leadership roles within operations and merchandising. By 2010, he was named chief merchandising officer for U.K. subsidiary Asda, and two years later became executive vice president of merchandising for Sam’s Club. Redfield eventually became executive vice president of food for Walmart U.S. and held that position prior to his current role of CMO for Walmart U.S.
“Whether they’re shopping online or in stores, his focus has been ensuring customers can always find the items they need and want at the lowest possible prices,” Furner said in the memo. “Especially as inflation started skyrocketing, Charles and team have worked hard with suppliers to lower prices and give value to customers when they’ve needed it most. He’s built a world-class diverse team that is on track to deliver for the business.”
In a recent post on LinkedIn, Redfield said that his merchandising team was working hard for its customers who look to Walmart for low prices. “I think it’s a truly exciting time to be at Walmart,” he wrote.
The big-box retailer, which has over 5,300 locations, reiterated earlier this month at its annual investor meeting that Walmart’s inventory sits within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population. Furner called the company’s stores “the key nodes” in its omnichannel operation.
By the end of fiscal year 2026, Walmart said it expects about 65% of its stores will have automation capabilities, 55% of its fulfillment center volume will move through automated facilities, and unit cost averages could fall by some 20%.
Over the past few weeks the company has been going through rounds of layoffs at distribution centers around the U.S., totaling over 3,000 workers so far.
