John Furner Rises From Stock Clerk To Walmart CEO

On a brisk February morning in Bentonville, Arkansas, John Furner stepped into the corner office as Walmart’s new president and CEO, marking the beginning of a new era for the world’s largest retailer. It’s a story that feels almost cinematic: a man who began his journey stocking shelves in a Bentonville garden center now finds himself at the helm of a $1 trillion company, responsible for 2.1 million employees and nearly 11,000 stores spanning 19 countries. Yet, for those who know Walmart’s culture, Furner’s rise is less an anomaly and more a testament to the company’s belief in homegrown leadership and institutional memory.

Furner’s appointment became official on February 1, 2026, succeeding Doug McMillon, who retired after a decade as CEO. McMillon’s departure was announced in November, and his final day was January 31. In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, McMillon praised his successor, writing, “He loves this company and his fellow associates, he deeply understands our business so well, and he has the right characteristics to lead us into the future. He’s a merchant, an operator, an innovator and a builder.” Greg Penner, Walmart’s chairman of the board, echoed this sentiment, stating, “John understands every dimension of our business—from the sales floor to global strategy. He has proven he can deliver results while living our values.” (Fortune.com)

Furner’s journey through Walmart’s ranks is as varied as it is impressive. After earning a marketing management degree from the University of Arkansas, he began as an hourly associate, then worked his way up through roles including store manager, district manager, buyer, divisional general manager, and vice president of global sourcing. He even spent two years in Shenzhen, China, overseeing merchandising and marketing for Walmart China—an experience that broadened his perspective on global retail. Before leading Walmart U.S., he served as CEO of Sam’s Club, where he steered the company through 11 consecutive quarters of growth and made tough calls to close underperforming stores, sharpening the brand’s competitive edge against rivals like Costco. (corporate.walmart.com; Fortune.com)

Furner’s approach to leadership is deeply practical, shaped by his upbringing on his grandfather’s farm. He often recalls lessons learned from those early mornings spent checking fence lines and tending livestock. “I learned with him that the animals don’t take Sundays and Saturdays and Wednesdays off,” Furner said, according to Fox News. “They’re always up. You get up early in the morning. You go drive the fence line to make sure that a cow hadn’t pushed his way through.” His grandfather’s hands-on, resourceful attitude—preferring to fix things himself rather than buy new solutions—left a lasting impression. “In a business, there’s so many unique situations that just land on you that there may not be a clear answer, but between your team, your resources, American ingenuity and creativity—There’s probably a way to solve it,” Furner added. (Fox News)

This philosophy has translated into a management style that values incremental, meaningful change over grand gestures. During his tenure as CEO of Walmart U.S., Furner played a pivotal role in reimagining how the company compensates its store managers and associates. In a bid to boost morale and retention, Walmart introduced lucrative pay packages for high-performing store managers. Base salaries were raised to between $130,000 and $160,000—more than double the median U.S. wage—with total compensation, including bonuses and stock options, reaching as high as $620,000. “Make managers feel like owners,” Furner explained, emphasizing the importance of shared accountability and frontline leadership. (Fortune.com)

The company also reinstated a bonus program for hourly workers, allowing some long-serving staff to earn up to $1,000 annually based on years of service. These moves, while not revolutionary, sent a powerful message about the value Walmart places on its people. As a result, Walmart secured a top 10 spot on Fortune’s Best Large Workplaces in retail for 2024. (Fortune.com)

But perhaps Furner’s greatest test came during the COVID-19 pandemic. With shoppers flooding stores and supply chains under strain, Furner helped lead a rapid transformation of Walmart’s operations. He worked with teams to strengthen fulfillment centers and expand pick-up and delivery services, enabling the company to meet surging online demand. As he told Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, Walmart shifted focus away from non-essential departments like optical and auto-care centers to prioritize groceries and essentials during the “stock-up phase.” These strategic pivots paid off handsomely: in 2021 alone, Walmart U.S. net sales soared by $29 billion, and e-commerce sales jumped by 79%. (Fortune.com)

Now, as he takes the reins, Furner faces a new set of challenges and opportunities. Automation and artificial intelligence are transforming the retail landscape, leading many to worry about job losses. Furner, however, has been clear-eyed and reassuring on this front. During the Brainstorm Tech conference in Park City, Utah, in September, he stated that while AI will inevitably change workflows, it will not reduce Walmart’s overall employment in the next five years. Instead, he predicts that roles will shift and evolve, often offering better pay. “We’re extending people’s career and those jobs pay better. The attrition rates are really low,” Furner said, adding that Walmart’s workforce would remain steady even as productivity increases. (Brainstorm Tech conference; Fortune.com)

Walmart’s evolution under Furner is expected to be one of refinement rather than reinvention. The company, now valued at approximately $1 trillion, operates more like a data-driven logistics powerhouse than a traditional retailer. Furner’s task is to fine-tune this machine, scaling what works and making surgical improvements where needed. He is not expected to mimic McMillon nor break from his legacy, but rather to steer Walmart’s next chapter with a steady hand, clear vision, and a deep respect for the company’s roots.

As John Furner walks the same floors he once cleaned as a young associate, he carries with him the lessons of hard work, humility, and ingenuity—qualities that have quietly shaped Walmart’s culture for decades. The coming years will test his ability to balance tradition with innovation, but if his past is any indication, he’s more than ready for the challenge.