Wal-Mart executive citing ‘disaster sales’ exits

Jerry Murray, a mid-level executive at Wal-Mart Stores, left his position as chief financial officer for Logistics, last week. He was executive cited in the infamous email leaked to Bloomberg saying February sales were “a total disaster” just ahead of the retailers fourth quarter earnings release.

Wal-Mart confirmed to the media today (April 10) that it was Murray’s decision to leave, and his last day was April 5. A replacement has not yet been named.

The retailer told The City Wire last month they were taking the employee’s violation of trust very seriously.

Corporate ethics experts said the breech in trust was highly unusual at the executive level, particularly given the retailer was in its “quiet period” ahead of earnings when the email was released. While the “quiet period” issue has been heavily debated over the years, many companies still adhere to a “mums the word” philosophy about releasing any financial data several weeks ahead of earnings.

Murray joined Wal-Mart in 2006 from Honeywell.  He began as a senior finance director, working in three separate divisions before attaining the vice president and chief financial officer position in Logistics in December 2010.