Sam’s Club names new chief operating officer

Sam’s Club has promoted Steve Schrobilgen, who once worked as a club cart pusher, as its next chief operating officer and executive vice president. He replaces Tom Ward who retired amid recent management changes at Sam’s Club and other Walmart divisions.

The announcement was made Wednesday (June 3) via an internal memo from Sam’s Club CEO Latriece Watkins.

Schrobilgen most recently served as chief operations officer at Walmart Canada. There he played a role in strengthening the Walmart Canada business, and was part of transformation initiatives, improving labor effectiveness, and accelerating the adoption of AI within operations, according to the memo.

He worked a little more than a year working in Walmart’s U.S.operations overseeing stores in the western divisions. Before that, he logged more than 22 years at Sam’s Club, starting his management career as a club manager in 1994. Before that he worked in operational roles after starting as an hourly cart pusher in June 1989 at Sam’s Club in Davenport, Iowa.

“We’re also thrilled to welcome Steve back home, bringing his experience from across the enterprise back to Sam’s Club,” Watkins noted in the memo. “His first job with the company was here and has over three decades of Sam’s Club experience, including being a Blue Coat recipient, Sam’s Club’s highest individual honor. Opportunities like this are earned through years of strong leadership, performance, and impact, and Steve has consistently demonstrated all three throughout his career.”

Watkins said Schrobilgen will play an important role in helping the retailer continue to improve the clubs and other operations in the division.

“His deep operational expertise, strategic perspective, and passion for developing people will be invaluable as we continue building the future of the business,” she said.

Schrobilgen will relocate to Northwest Arkansas. Watkins said he will begin work in Bentonville toward the end of June.