PRESS RELEASE
Published on March 9, 2009
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: David Tovar, Wal-Mart | |||
1-800-331-0085 | ||||
Investor Relations Contacts: Carol Schumacher | ||||
479-277-1498 | ||||
Mike Beckstead | ||||
479-277-9558 |
Wal-Mart Names Brian Cornell
President and CEO of Sams Club
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Mar. 9, 2009 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) announced today that Brian Cornell, 50, will become president and chief executive officer of Sams Club, the companys members-only warehouse operating segment, effective April 3. Cornell replaces Doug McMillon, who became president and CEO of Wal-Mart International on Feb. 1, and will report to Mike Duke, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
In searching for our new Sams Club CEO, we wanted a leader who is strong, talented and people-oriented, said Duke. We also wanted someone with broad experience in retail management, food merchandising and consumer product marketing. Above all, we looked for a leader who would live up to our brand and our culture. We found all of these things in Brian.
Sams Club ended last fiscal year with $46.8 billion in sales, a 5.6 percent increase in revenue over the prior year. As of year end, there were 602 Sams Clubs operating in the United States. Sams plans to add between 15 and 20 clubs during the current fiscal year.
Duke continued, If you look at the performance of the three biggest warehouse clubs over the past year, its clear that the club business is among the fastest growing retail segments. There has never been a time of greater opportunity for Sams Club and its continued growth is an integral part of our companys overall business plan. Brians unique talent and experience will help build on the strong foundation and recent momentum at Sams Club and take our club business to the next level.
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According to Cornell, I am excited to join the Wal-Mart family and have the opportunity to lead an organization like Sams Club. Its truly an honor to succeed a terrific leader like Doug and I look forward to continuing a strong strategic direction for the business. I am committed to remaining relentlessly focused on serving our members needs, delivering value through merchandise quality and enhancing the member shopping experience.
Cornell has more than 20 years of experience, most recently serving as CEO of Michaels Stores, Inc., the largest specialty retailer of arts and crafts merchandise for the hobbyist and do-it-yourself home decorator in North America. Prior to that, Cornell was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Safeway, where he was responsible for the companys marketing, merchandising and distribution operations, as well as its online home delivery business. Cornell has also held senior management positions at PepsiCo, including president of Pepsi-Cola North Americas Food Services Division and president of Tropicana International.
He earned a bachelors degree at UCLA and attended its Anderson Graduate School of Management. He will relocate to Bentonville, Ark. with his wife Martha.
NOTE: A bio and high resolution photo of Brian Cornell are available for downloading at: http://www.walmartstores.com/factsnews
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Walmart discount stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sams Club locations in the United States. The company also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. The companys common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.
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