Mac Naughton Resigns In Merchandising Shakeup

Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., has left the company to pursue other opportunities, the company said Nov. 25.

Rather than name his replacement, Walmart will have a team of merchandising executives who report directly to Walmart U.S. CEO Greg Foran.

According to a report by Jon Springer of the weekly trade magazine Supermarket News, Jack Sinclair, currently the executive vice president of food, will be replaced by Steve Bratspies, the company’s current executive vice president of general merchandise.

Sinclair will help transition the food business in coming weeks before taking another role at Walmart, to be announced at a later date.

Also affected in the shakeup, according to the report, are Andy Barron, who will retain his role as executive vice president of softlines and also assume responsibilities for general merchandise.

 Michelle Gloeckler will remain executive vice president of consumables and U.S. manufacturing, with Labeed Diab, senior vice president of health and wellness, now reporting to Gloeckler.

John Aden, executive vice president of sales innovation, and Scott Huff, executive vice president of merchandising operations, will remain in their roles. All but Diab will report to Foran.

The Wall Street Journal’s Shelly Banjo, who broke the story of Mac Naughton’s departure, said his exit gives Foran the chance “to restructure the U.S. operation as Walmart tries to fix a problem that has dogged it for years: stocking products that will attract more shoppers into its stores.” 

Walmart’s U.S. business makes up nearly 60 percent of the company’s $476 billion in sales.