Charles Redfield to leave Walmart in May, ends a 32-year career

Charles Redfield, chief merchandising officer and 32-year employee at Walmart, is leaving the retailer in May, according to an internal email sent Friday (April 14). He will transition into an advisory role for the business on May 1.

Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner praised Redfield’s more than three decades in many merchnge leadership jobs at Walmart. Furner said it was Redfield’s decision to begin a new chapter in June to spend more time with family, He has served as Walmart’s chief merchandising officer since January 2022. Walmart said his replacement will be announced soon.

Redfield began his career at Walmart as Sam’s Club cashier while attending the University of Arkansas. After completing his degree, he began his full-time career as an assistant manager with Sam’s Club and over the course of several years and he progressed to hold a number of leadership roles within Sam’s Club operations and merchandising. Outside of a two-year gig at Hudson Bay from 1988-1989, Redfield has spent the rest of career at Walmart and Sam’s Club. He also became an officer at Walmart at age 35.

In 2010, Redfield was named chief merchandising officer for Asda, Walmart’s U.K. subsidiary. During his two years with Asda, Furner said Redfield played an integral role in leadership and quality improvements.

He returned to U.S. in May 2012 to serve as executive vice president of merchandising for Sam’s Club, where he had sourcing and merchandising responsibility. In 2015, he was named executive vice president over food at Walmart U.S., responsible for overall strategy, assortment and private brands. He held that role until his promotion to chief merchandising officer in January 2022.

Redfield grew up in Bentonville and serves on the boards of Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest, the Razorback Foundation at the University of Arkansas and Bentonville-based Arvest Bank. He and his wife, Sue, have two children.