When did Doug McMillon become CEO?

Yashasvi Khushu || The CEO Magazine

Sitting at a net worth of $100 million is the youngest CEO in the history of Wal-Mart, C. Douglas McMillon, the President And Chief Executive Officer of the world's largest private workforce, with 2.3 million employees at the Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Wal-Mart).

'Saving people money so they can live better', the mission that Wal-Mart believes in is being led under the management of Douglas strongly. Today, in his supervision, the brand name has bought together a vast logistics network, digital commerce capacity, stores, and means of empowering the customers wherever, whenever and however they would want.

Wal-Mart has opened thousands of stores in the U.S. and expanded internationally. Through innovation, they create a seamless experience to let customers shop anytime and anywhere online, through mobile devices and in stores. They are creating opportunities and bringing value to customers and communities around the globe. Wal-Mart operates over 11,200 stores under 55 banners in 27 countries and eCommerce websites in 10 countries. They employ approximately 2.2 million associates around the world out of which 1.5 million are in the U.S. alone.

Douglas completed his graduation in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas and later from the University of Tulsa; he earned his MBA in Finance. In February 2009-2014, he had to his administration a rapidly growing segment of the overall operations of the company, Wal-Mart International. This segment took care of 26 countries outside the USA with approximately 800,000 associates and 6400+ stores to take care of. Before that, from 2006 to 2009, he was serving as the president of Sam's Club; this is an operating segment at Wal-Mart which generated approximately $50 billion annual revenue during his tenure.

C. Douglas McMillon has a long history with Wal-Mart, the culture of the company and the associates working in it. This guy started young in 1984 with the brand as a summer associate working on an hourly basis at one of the distribution centres. Later in 1990 he came back to the company and joined as an assistant manager while pursuing his MBA in Tulsa, Okla before he shifted his interest to merchandising and changed his job to a buyer trainee in the same company. He achieved new heights with time and successfully played a significant role in various esteemed leadership positions in the business segment at Wal-Mart. His heart of a merchant completely comprehends the consumer's mind and towards what direction are they heading.

Serving on multiple boards of Wal-Mart, the U.S.-China Business Council, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art as the Director, and the Consumer Goods Forum, Douglas also takes care of the advisory board in Beijing, China for the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management and serves as the advisor to Dean at the University of Arkansas for Walton College of Business.

Born on 17 October 1966 and originally from Bentonville, Arkansas, US, This CEO has been recognized by 'The World Economic Forum' as a 'Young Global Leader'. With Douglas coming into the picture, Wal-Mart has collaborated and strengthened with others providing equal opportunity of transformations. He has taken up sustainability, community, and opportunity in potential and needs worthy areas to create shared value for the society and the customers, both.

Wal-Mart Foundation provides more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind to support programs that align with their philanthropic priorities. Their ability to draw on Wal-Mart's business strengths, providing more than just funding, helps them in delivering greater societal impact. Today because of the efforts of the Foundation, they create opportunities for people to live better every day.

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Carl Douglas McMillon is the president and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Walmart Inc.  He became the CEO of Walmart in 2014 replacing Mike Duke. McMillon also serves on the company's board of directors. From 2005 to 2009, he led the company's Sam's Club division, and from 2009 to 2013, he led Walmart's international division. 55-year-old  Doug McMillon (Born on 17 October 1966) is the youngest CEO in the history of Walmart Inc.

McMillon has devoted himself to Walmart, throughout his career he has worked for Walmart. He started his career in 1984 with Walmart, when he was a teenager, as a summer associate. Gradually showing his interest he became a buyer with Walmart. After completing his studies he rejoined Walmart and became  an assistant manager at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, store. In 1991, he moved to Walmart's Bentonville headquarters to join the buyer-training program. Later he worked as a general merchandise manager for Walmart's wholesale store division Sam's Club before taking an executive role at Walmart, overseeing toys, electronics, and sporting goods, among other areas.

In 2005, McMillion became president and CEO of Sam's Club. In 2009 he was promoted to lead Walmart's international division. Under his leadership at the company's international division,  Walmart focused on improving in existing markets, such as Canada, China, United Kingdom and the Americas, by integrating Walmart's "everyday low prices" model to these international markets. It was his tenure that Walmart International's sales growth outpaced Walmart US. By late 2013, Walmart International operated 6,300 stores in 26 countries.

On November 25, 2013, the company announced that McMillon would immediately join the company's board of directors, and would replace Mike Duke to become the CEO effective on February 1, 2014. He was given the charge at a time when the company faced slow growth and increased competition from rivals, such as Costco, Amazon.com, grocery store chains Kroger and Safeway, and discount chains of small stores like Family Dollar and Dollar General. By 2016, McMillon raised wages for hourly workers in the US, boosted the company's commitment to e-commerce and revamped Walmart's executive team.

In 2014, 2015 and 2016 McMillon was named in Forbes World's Most Powerful People list and ranked No. 29, No. 32, No. 27 respectively. In response to the mass shooting which took place at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas in August 2019, McMillion announced that the company would no longer sell ammunition used for handguns and military-style weapons.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, McMillon grew up in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the eldest of 3 children born to Laura and Morris McMillon, a dentist who served in Vietnam. He did his schooling from Bentonville High School,  attended University of Arkansas, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1989 and in 1990 he did his MBA from University of Tulsa. McMillon is married to Shelley, the couple has 2 sons and lives in Bentonville, Arkansas.
 

This CEO's rise didn't come as a surprise. Danny Johnston / AP Images

Walmart has been a major part of Doug McMillon's life for years.

Back in high school, the future CEO took on a job unloading trucks at the retail chain. While studying for his MBA years later, McMillon decided to return to Walmart. 

He proceeded to rise through the company's corporate structure and ultimately became the CEO of Walmart Inc. in 2014. His promotion didn't come as much of a surprise, though. Fortune dubbed him "The Chosen One" in a 2015 profile.

Here's a look back on the life and career of Walmart CEO Doug McMillon:

Doug McMillon. Danny Johnston / AP Images

Source: Fortune

Doug McMillon. April L. Brown / AP Images

Doug McMillon. Jacquelyn Martin / AP Images

Source: Fortune

Doug McMillon. April L. Brown / AP Images

Source: Fortune

Doug McMillon. April L. Brown / AP Images

Source: Walmart

Doug McMillon. Gareth Patterson / AP Images

Source: Fortune

Doug McMillon. Spencer Tirey / AP Images for Walmart Inc.

Source: Reuters

Doug McMillon. Mark Lennihan / AP Images

Source: Fortune

Max Nisen contributed reporting to a previous version of this story.

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