Wal-Mart shuffles department execs

Discount Store News, Dec 8, 1997

BENTONVILLE, ARK. - Manufacturers who do business with Wal-Mart and its Sam's Club division will find some new faces on the other side of the table following the retailer's recent merchandising department shifts. A desire to strengthen the merchandising team at Sam's was the impetus for the changes, which primarily involve those at the senior vice president, vice president and divisional merchandise manager level.

The most notable change was the promotion of Rob Voss to senior vp for new development at Sam's. Voss was previously Sam's senior vp of merchandising. In his new position, Voss is responsible for developing innovative strategies to accelerate Sam's growth. He has been replaced by J.R. Campbell, who will serve as Sam's senior vp of merchandising. Campbell is a Wal-Mart veteran who joined the retailer in 1978 and has since held numerous merchandising positions. He last served as senior vp, gmm for Wal-Mart Stores.

Also making the move to Sam's from Wal-Mart are Lois Mikita and Mike Bratcher. Mikita was appointed vp, gmm at Sam's after serving as vp, dmm for housewares and small appliances for Wal-Mart Stores. Bratcher was appointed vp, gmm at Sam's after serving as Wal-Mart's dmm for toys.

With Campbell, Mikita and Bratcher moving to Sam's, their open positions at Wal-Mart caused a wave of other changes.

Campbell's former responsibilities will be assumed by Don Harris, who will retain his senior vp, gmm title, but will oversee toys, sporting goods, automotives, lawn and garden, live goods and seasonal merchandise. He was previously responsible for H&BC, cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, pet supplies, household chemicals, paper goods and OTC drugs.

Those categories will now fall under the purview of Doug Degn, who was promoted to vp, gmm after serving as dmm for H&BC and OTC. Filling Degn's former dmm position with H&BC and OTC responsibilities will be Mike Bryson, who was formerly an H&BC buyer.

Bratcher's former toy responsibilities at Wal-Mart will be handled by Beth Schommer, who was promoted to vp, dmm after serving as a buyer for food products. Mikita's former housewares and small appliances responsibilities at Wal-Mart will be handled by Bill Long, who was promoted to vp, dmm. He was previously dmm for office supplies. Long's office supplies duties will now be handled by Kevin O'Connor, who was promoted to dmm after serving as buyer for computers and video.

The changes come as Wal-Mart heads into what is expected to be a strong holiday selling season. Through the first nine months of the current fiscal year, sales have increased 12% to $82.5 billion, while earnings have grown 14% to $2.23 billion. Wal-Mart's earnings continue to outpace sales thanks to inventory reduction efforts and improved performance from international operations. During the first nine months of the fiscal year, the international division reported an $85 million operating profit vs. a $41 million operating loss for the same time period last year.