Forty Under 40: Brian Henry, 36

Despite working at big-time law firms in cities like New York and Chicago, the chance to “run deals, be on point” in relatively tiny Bentonville was too much to pass up for Brian Henry.
The Michigan native said Wal-Mart Stores’ track record of “allowing people to grow and expand” was a determining factor. That’s been the case with Henry, who helps the retailing giant implement its acquisition strategy in foreign countries.
“All of the promises Wal-Mart represented have come true for me,” Henry said.
The work involves long hours and lots of travel, but Henry finds it rewarding. Still, he deflected a question about his most fulfilling achievement.
“I sincerely hope I have my best days ahead of me,” he said.
As globally active as Wal-Mart is, the possibilities seem endless.
“At a company like Wal-Mart, that’s very hard to answer,” Henry said when asked what’s next. “The world is open.”
Henry prefers to spend any spare time with his wife and two young sons, who he jokingly called “good ol’ Southern boys.”
Henry wasn’t kidding, though, when he said he’s grown to enjoy Northwest Arkansas. He said he’s struck from time to time by Arkansas’ “unspoiled” beauty.
“They call it ‘The Natural State,’ and it really is,” Henry said.