Doug McMillon’s career at Walmart started when he was in high school, picking up orders and unloading trailers at a warehouse. It’ll end with a successful 12-year run as the retail giant’s CEO.
McMillon will retire from the role on Jan. 31, 2026, after almost 12 years at the retail giant’s helm, Walmart announced on Friday. The 59-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, became Walmart’s fifth CEO in February 2014, and his career arc is noteworthy: McMillon first joined Walmart in 1984 as an hourly associate, and held a variety of roles at the company as he moved up the ranks.
He became CEO and president of Walmart-owned Sam’s Club from 2005 to 2009, and held the same titles at Walmart International from 2009 to 2014. His decades of experiences working with different teams at Walmart influenced his leadership philosophies, he’s said.
“I think the thing that’s been consistent [throughout my time at Walmart] is that this is a team sport and nothing happens through the work of just an individual,” McMillon said in a May 21 episode of Stanford Graduate School Of Business’ “View From The Top” podcast. “We all do this together. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re going to do a startup or you’re at a big company, that’s going to be the case.”
