On February 1, 2026, John Furner became the new CEO of Walmart, stepping into the role previously held by Doug McMillon, whose last day was January 31. Furner, who has been with Walmart since he began working in a garden center in Bentonville, Arkansas, now leads a company that employs over 2.1 million people across nearly 11,000 stores in 19 countries. His understanding of the business and commitment to employee welfare has been noted by outgoing CEO McMillon, who emphasized Furner's love for the company and his colleagues during his departure announcement. Furner's management practices have been shaped by his early experiences working on a farm with his grandfather, which instilled in him a strong work ethic. This philosophy influenced his decisions at Walmart, particularly during his previous role as CEO of Sam's Club. Under his leadership, Sam's Club achieved 11 consecutive quarters of positive growth and adapted strategies to compete effectively against rivals like Costco. To meet the demand surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, Furner focused on enhancing the company's grocery business, while also prioritizing investments in technology. Walmart has expanded its fulfillment centers and delivery services to cater to the increased online shopping trend. During his time at Walmart, Furner has made significant changes in employee compensation, raising store managers' salaries to between $130,000 and $160,000, which is more than double the median annual salary for American workers. He has emphasized employee retention and job quality, stating that despite the advancement of AI technologies, Walmart plans to maintain its employee count over the next five years while boosting productivity. Attrition rates among workers have reportedly been low, and Furner has committed to extending careers in the company through enhanced job stability and better pay. As the new CEO, Furner now faces the challenge of navigating Walmart through a rapidly evolving retail landscape, influenced by economic factors and consumer trends. His vision, built on his deep understanding of the retail business and a commitment to both employees and customers, aims to uphold Walmart's status as a leading global retailer while optimizing operations and exploring new growth opportunities in uncertain economic times.