(Reuters) -Walmart ( WMT ) on Friday named seasoned executive and insider John Furner as its new CEO, effective February 2026, replacing Doug McMillon, who led the retail behemoth for more than a decade.

His appointment comes as Walmart ( WMT ) and other retailers struggle with choppy consumer spending, rising consumer inflation and pressures due to tariffs.

Here are a few facts about the U.S. retail giant's new CEO:

WALMART STALWART 

Furner, 51, started at Walmart ( WMT ) in 1993 as a part-time hourly associate at its garden center. He rose through the ranks, holding roles in operations and merchandising for Sam's Club and Walmart China.

He is currently president and CEO of Walmart U.S. 

EDUCATION AND EARLY CAREER

Furner attended the University of Arkansas, where he studied marketing management, graduating in 1996 from the university's Sam M. Walton College of Business. He worked in the company's home base of Bentonville, Arkansas, where his father was an executive at Walmart ( WMT ).

SAM'S CLUB CEO

As CEO of Sam's Club, Furner improved the unit's performance with higher comparable sales by pushing the retailer to innovate, shutting stores and repurposing stores as distribution hubs.

WALMART U.S. HEAD

Furner became CEO of Walmart U.S. in 2019, where he leads more than 1.5 million associates, and is responsible for more than 4,600 stores. 

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)