The Journal. Walmart’s Former CEO on the Company’s Turnaround
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Feb 10, 2026 
Doug McMillon, longtime Walmart executive who led a decade-long turnaround, reflects on his rise from store floor to CEO. He discusses fixing stores with better pay and schedules. He talks about boosting e-commerce through acquisitions, grocery pickup and delivery, AI partnerships, and preparing a successor for the next chapter.
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From Warehouse Summer Job To CEO
- Doug McMillon started at Walmart in the summer of 1984 working in a Bentonville warehouse while still in high school.
- He rose through the company over 35 years to become CEO in 2014, highlighting deep internal experience.
Fix The Core Store First
- Walmart's reputation was poor when McMillon became CEO and stores needed basic fixes.
- He prioritized store operations: pay, scheduling, inventory, managers, and lower prices to restore health.
Invest In Staff To Enable E‑Commerce
- Invest in workers and stores to revive physical retail before scaling online.
- Raise wages, reduce turnover, and improve store operations to enable e-commerce growth.