Walmart expands board of directors, adds NBCUniversal chairman Cesar Conde

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by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) February 11, 2019 10:59 am 559 views 

Retail giant Walmart Inc. announced an addition to its board of directors Monday (Feb. 11), tapping Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal International Group, as a new independent director. The appointment is effective immediately for Conde, 45, who becomes the 12th member of the board.

The board lost two directors this past year as Kevin Systrom, CEO of Instagram, stepped away to focus more on his own business. James Cash, a director for 12 years, retired at age 70 in accordance with corporate term limits. The board added McDonald’s CEO Stephen Easterbrook this past year, giving the group 11 members.

“Cesar brings strong skills as a global executive and expertise in brand management, finance, digital and media that will complement our board of directors’ experiences. We look forward to his strategic insights as we continue to drive the transformation of Walmart to better serve customers and win in an omnichannel world,” Board Chairman Greg Penner said in a statement.

Walmart said Conde will be a member of the board’s audit and e-commerce committees. He has an international background overseeing and expanding NBCUniversal operations and business outside North America. He is chairman for Telemundo Enterprises, where he oversees the leading media properties serving Hispanics across broadcast, cable and digital platforms.

Prior to his present role at NBCUniversal, in 2015, Conde was president of Univision Networks and for 10 years served in various executive roles. He also served as White House Fellow for Secretary of State Colin Powell from 2002-2003. He also has a financial background, with a few years working in mergers and acquisitions for Salomon Smith Barney.

“Today’s consumer landscape is changing, and I believe Walmart’s unique assets position the company to meet the changing demographics around the world,” Conde said. “I look forward to working with the board and management team to help drive the company’s strategic plans and continued growth.”

Conde also serves on the board of directors of PepsiCo. He is a trustee of the Aspen Institute and the Paley Center for Media. Conde holds a bachelor’s degree with honors from Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Conde resides in Miami, Fla.