Walmart names Watkins president, CEO of Sam’s Club U.S

Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) announced leadership changes effective February 1, 2026, naming Latriece Watkins as President and CEO of Sam's Club U.S., a division of the retail giant. Watkins, who has spent 32 years with Walmart, most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer for Walmart U.S., where she oversaw the selection of approximately $500 billion in annual products and reshaped the company's assortment strategy to attract higher-income households.

Watkins began her career at Walmart as an intern in the real estate division in 1997 and has held leadership roles across merchandising, operations, and people strategy. Her promotion follows a track record of driving operational excellence and customer-focused innovation, including expanding Walmart's private-label offerings and enhancing digital capabilities. As Sam's Club's new leader, she will succeed Chris Nicholas, who transitions to CEO of Walmart International.

The leadership shift aligns with Walmart's broader "People Led, Tech Powered" strategy, emphasizing data-driven decision-making and technology-enabled retail transformation. Watkins' appointment reflects the company's focus on strengthening Sam's Club's competitive position against rivals like Costco and Amazon, particularly in private-label development and e-commerce.

Watkins' career trajectory underscores Walmart's emphasis on internal talent development. She succeeds Kath McLay, who previously led Sam's Club, and will prioritize expanding access to quality, value-driven products while maintaining the membership club's operational efficiency. Her leadership comes amid heightened retail competition and evolving consumer demands, with Sam's Club's private-label segment already contributing roughly one-third of its revenue.