Wal-Mart controller Steve Whaley to step down December 31

Wal-Mart Stores announced Friday (Nov. 18) that Senior Vice President and Controller Steve Whaley, 57, is resigning, effective Dec. 31. Whaley, the company’s principal accounting officer since 2007, will stay on in a transitional role until Jan. 31, 2017.

Whaley joined Wal-Mart in 2005 as vice president and assistant controller and was promoted to vice president and controller in 2006. In 2007, he was named senior vice president and controller, where he became the corporation’s principal accounting officer.

In his role with Wal-Mart, Whaley’s responsibilities include financial reporting, internal controls and accounting policy across the retailer’s global operations. Before he joined Wal-Mart, Whaley served as vice president and controller of Southwest Airlines Co., where he worked for 16 years. He also spent seven years with KPMG.

Whaley will be replaced by David Chojnowski, effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Chojnowski, vice president and controller of the Wal-Mart U.S. since October 2014, will report to Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs.

Chojnowski, 47, joined the company in April 2011 as vice president and controller of Walmart International. He was previously chief accounting officer for Burger King Corp. before joining Walmart.