Walmart shuffles merchandising leadership, names US COO
Walmart is changing some of the faces at the top of its U.S. operations. The company has named Scott McCall chief merchandising officer effective Feb. 1, according to the retailer’s corporate website. The company also named Dacona Smith COO of Walmart US, moving into the role from Sam’s Club.
McCall replaces Steve Bratspies, who has been chief merchandising officer since October 2015, having joined the company in 2005 as vice president of category marketing. During his tenure with Walmart, Bratspies worked his way up to senior vice president of marketing in 2007, followed by various merchandising roles, overseeing Walmart’s food business, including private brands and global food sourcing.
A Wall Street Journal report cited a statement from Bratspies, in which he declined to say what his next plans were, but noting that “it’s time for a new challenge.”
McCall has been with Walmart for more than 25 years, joining the company as an hourly management trainee, ascending through the ranks to an operational role in the company’s Bentonville, Ark., headquarters, followed by a position as a merchandise buyer. He was most recently senior vice president for entertainment, toys and seasonal.
Smith joins Walmart US from his role as executive vice president and COO of Walmart’s Sam’s Club division, as Walmart US executive vice president and COO effective Feb. 1. Smith has been with the company for nearly 30 years, starting out as an hourly associate, ultimately working his way into the senior vice president of Walmart’s U.S. West division before moving to his role with Sam’s Club. The company has named Lance de la Rosa to succeed Smith at Sam’s Club.
The moves come a month before Walmart is set to release its earnings for the fourth-quarter and full-year 2020, with the former including its holiday sales results.