Sam’s Club to get new chief

Brian Cornell, 50, will become president and CEO of Sam’s Club effective April 3, according to a press release issued Monday by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. He is to succeed Doug McMillon who on Feb. 1 became president and CEO of Wal-Mart International.
 
Prior to joining the company, Cornell worked for Michaels Stores, Inc., where he held the position of CEO for the largest specialty retailer of arts and crafts for the hobbyist and do-it-yourself home decorator in North America. Cornell also was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Safeway, and has held senior management positions at PepsiCo.

Cornell has served on the board of directors for Home Depot since 2007, and served on the board of directors for Office Max from 2004-2007, and Kirin-Tropicana Inc. from 1996-2001.
 
Sam’s Club ended last fiscal year with $46.8 billion in sales, a 5.6 percent increase over the prior year. As of year end, there were 602 Sam’s Clubs operating in the United States. Sam’s plans to add between 15 and 20 clubs during the current fiscal year.
 
 Cornell earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of California Los Angeles.