John Furner

John Furner is an American business executive. He is president and CEO of Walmart U.S. Previously, he led Walmart's Sam's Club subsidiary.

John Furner
President and CEO, Walmart U.S.
In office November 2019 - present
Preceded by	Greg Foran
CEO Sam's Club
In office February 2017 - November 2019
Preceded by	Rosalind Brewer
Succeeded by	Kathryn McLay
Personal details
Born	1974 (age 49–50) Jacksonville, Arkansas
Children	4

Early life and education

Furner was born in 1974 in Jacksonville, Arkansas.^[1] He attended university at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he studied marketing management.^[1] Furner graduated from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in 1996.^[2]

Career

Furner began his career at Walmart in 1993 as an hourly store associate.^[3] He later became a store manager, district manager, and buyer. He became CEO of Sam's Club on Feb. 1, 2017, after serving as Sam's Club's chief merchandising officer and, prior that, spending nearly three years in Walmart's international division as EVP of merchandising and marketing for Walmart China.^[4][5] At Sam's Club, Furner closed 63 stores to better compete with Costco. The Wall Street Journal reported that sales increased during his time as CEO.^[6] Based on his experience at Walmart China, Furner focused on increasing the use of technology in Sam's Club warehouses and narrowing its targeted customer.^[4][7] Furner also focused on increasing Sam's Club's private brand business.^[8]

Furner became president and CEO of Walmart U.S. in November 2019.^[5]

Personal life

Furner is married with four children.^[2] He is board chairman of the National Retail Federation and was a board member of Medal of Honor Foundation in 2020.^[9][10]

References

1. Monk, Ginny (February 11, 2018). "High Profile: Sam's Club CEO John Furner". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
2. Speer, David (Winter 2018). "The 'Truth' About Sam's Club" (PDF). Walton Magazine. p. 19. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
3. "Walmart Names John Furner President & CEO of Walmart U.S." corporate.walmart.com. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-22. Furner, 45, started with Walmart as an hourly associate in 1993, working part-time in the garden center of a supercenter
4. Troy, Mike (November 16, 2018). "The digital first CEO transforming Sam's Club". Retail Leader. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
5. Redman, Russell (October 10, 2019). "John Furner to succeed Greg Foran as Walmart U.S. CEO". Supermarket News. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
6. Nassauer, Sarah (October 10, 2019). "Walmart's U.S. Stores Chief to Quit Retailer". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
7. Troy, Mike (October 16, 2017). "Featured Executive: John Furner". Retail Leader. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
8. Unglesbee, Ben (October 11, 2019). "Walmart's topsy-turvy week ends with the exit of US chief". Retail Dive. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
9. McKay, Serenah (January 20, 2022). "Walmart exec gets federation board spot". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
10. "Leadership". Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.