Walmart Names New CEO Doug McMillon To Succeed Mike Duke In February 2014

Walmart Names New CEO
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An outdoors sign for Walmart is seen in Duarte, Calif. Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges the company dumped hazardous waste in Calif. Wal-Mart entered the plea in federal court in San Francisco to misdemeanor counts of negligently dumping pollutants from Walmart stores into sanitation drains across California, a company spokeswoman said. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

* Doug McMillon, 47, to become CEO on Feb. 1

* Currently heads Wal-Mart's international division

* Outgoing CEO Mike Duke to remain as adviser for one year

* Shares rise 0.5 percent (Adds details, analyst quote, updates share price)

By Aditi Shrivastava and Phil Wahba

Nov 25 (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc named the head of its international division, Doug McMillon, to replace Chief Executive Mike Duke, who will retire on Jan. 31 after five years at the helm of the world's largest retailer.

McMillon, a 47-year-old Wal-Mart veteran, will take charge after the holiday shopping season at a time when the company is facing intense competition from dollar stores and other discounters, such as Target Corp.

"McMillon was responsible for the growth area for Wal-Mart - international sales - and that's why he got the nod," said Walter Loeb, president of retail consultancy Loeb Associates.

Wal-Mart, whose shares rose 0.5 percent in early trading, has missed Wall Street estimates for U.S. comparable sales for three quarters in a row.

McMillon, currently CEO of Wal-Mart's second-largest operating unit, will start in his new role on Feb. 1, the company said in a statement on Monday.

Originally from Jonesboro, Arkansas, McMillon joined Wal-Mart in 1984 as a summer employee in a distribution center. After studying for an MBA degree, he rejoined the company in a Tulsa, Oklahoma store in 1990.

He was promoted to his current role as head of Walmart International in January 2009. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of the company's retail warehouse chain, Sam's Club.

"McMillon has done just about every job there is (at Wal-Mart)," said Joe Feldman, analyst with Telsey Advisory Group.

"He's a good fit culturally and, as a young 47-year-old, there's an opportunity to be there for a long time," he said.

Duke, 63, will continue as chairman of the executive committee of the board and stay on as an adviser to McMillon for a year.

During his five-year tenure as chief executive, Wal-Mart's share price has risen by just over half, underperforming a more-than doubling of the S&P 500.

Duke's salary for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, was $1.3 million, while his total remuneration was $20.7 million, according to a regulatory filing in April. McMillon's total compensation for the period was $9.6 million.

Wal-Mart did not give details of his future salary as CEO.

Wal-Mart shares were up 0.49 percent at $80.20 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange. (Writing by Robin Paxton; Editing by Joyjeet Das and Ted Kerr)

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Before You Go

Thanksgiving 2013 Store Hours
Walmart(01 of15)
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Walmart will be starting its Black Friday deals at 6 p.m. local time on Thanksgiving Day, two hours earlier than last year.CORRECTION: An earlier version of this slide incorrectly stated that Walmart would be opening at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The company is actually starting its Black Friday deals then. (credit:Getty)
Kmart(02 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 6 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.Black Friday: 12:00 a.m. - 11 p.m. (credit:AP)
Old Navy(03 of15)
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Thanksgiving: Over 900 stores will be open from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Then, 700 stores will reopen 7 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.Black Friday: 12:00 a.m. - 11:59 p.m. (credit:Getty Images)
Target(04 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 8 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.Black Friday: 12:00 a.m. - 11 p.m. (credit:AP)
Staples(05 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 8:00 p.m. - midnightBlack Friday: 6 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (credit:AP)
Sears(06 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 8 p.m - 11:59 p.m.Black Friday: 12:00 a.m. - 10 p.m. (credit:Getty Images)
Best Buy(07 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 6 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.Black Friday: 12:00 a.m. - 10 p.m. (credit:AP)
Toys R Us(08 of15)
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Thanksgiving: Some Toys R Us plan to open as early as 5 p.m. Black Friday: Most stores are open from 12 a.m. - 11 p.m. (credit:AP)
Michael's(09 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.Black Friday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. (credit:Flickr User: Fan of Retail)
Macy's(10 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 8 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.Black Friday: 12:00 a.m. - 10 p.m. (credit:Getty Images)
J.C. Penney(11 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 8 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.Black Friday: 12:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (credit:AP)
Kohl's(12 of15)
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Thanksgiving: 8 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.Black Friday: 12:00 a.m. - 11:59 p.m. (credit:AP)
Simon Malls(13 of15)
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Thanksgiving: Some Simon Malls plan to open as early as 6 p.m. Black Friday: Most stores are open from 12 a.m. - 10 p.m. (credit:AP)
Dollar General(14 of15)
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Thanksgiving hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.Black Friday hours: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. (credit:AP)
Dick's Sporting Goods(15 of15)
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Thanksgiving Hours: Hours vary, but some stores will open as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.Black Friday Hours: Some stores will open as early as midnight. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb3031ce4b0480ca661536c" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="1">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/71978807@N03/9309022175" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Nicholas Eckhart" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb3031ce4b0480ca661536c" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/71978807@N03/9309022175" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="2">Nicholas Eckhart</a>)