Biggs To Succeed Holley As Walmart’s CFO

Last updated on October 13th, 2015 at 10:51 am

Brett Biggs will succeed Walmart CFO Charles Holley, who has elected to retire. The change takes effect Dec. 31. Holley will stay on until Jan. 31, 2016, to help with the transition. Holley, 59, has served as Walmart’s EVP and CFO since December 2010.

Since January 2014, Biggs has served as EVP and CFO of Walmart International, where he is responsible for international strategy and finance activities, including business planning and analysis, financial services, and support for real estate and mergers and acquisitions.

In his new role, Biggs will report to Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon.

“Brett is a strong leader whose broad experience uniquely qualifies him to lead our finance and strategy areas,” McMillon said. “Having had a variety of important roles in all three of Walmart’s business segments, Brett is well prepared. He thoroughly understands Walmart’s operations, how we intend to compete in a dynamic and changing retail environment and how we can best serve customers, associates and shareholders.”

Prior to his current role, Biggs served as CFO of Walmart U.S. from January 2012 until January 2014, and as SVP of Sam’s Club operations from September 2010 until January 2012. Previously, he served in a variety of roles since joining the company in 2000, including SVP and CFO of Sam’s Club, SVP of corporate finance and assistant treasurer and SVP international strategy and mergers and acquisitions. Before Walmart, Biggs worked at Leggett & Platt Inc. on its mergers and acquisitions team. Prior to that, he was an accountant at Phillips Petroleum Co., now ConocoPhillips, and an auditor at Pricewaterhouse LLP, now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Biggs is a certified public accountant.

In addition, Walmart U.S. has appointed Steve Bratspies to chief merchandising officer for U.S. stores, effective Oct. 19. Bratspies will oversee all merchandise categories across more than 4,500 stores in the U.S. business. He will continue to report to Greg Foran, Walmart U.S. president and CEO.

“Steve is a true leader and an example of the rich talent that exists within the merchandise organization,” said Foran. “His outstanding merchandising instincts and commitment to innovation and price leadership will challenge the status quo to serve our customers better.”

Added Bratspies, “Walmart is known for its world class merchandising organization. From the buyers and replenishment managers to our merchandise operations experts, it’s a dedicated team with a commitment to serving customers that I’m honored to lead.

“Going forward, we’ll continue our relentless focus on our customers—we’ll move with speed and conviction to ‘super-serve’ the millions who shop Walmart. We will stay true to our mission by strengthening our commitment to everyday low prices, optimizing our assortment and winning at omni-channel retailing through strong partnerships with suppliers and a continued investment in our associates.”

Most recently, Bratspies served as EVP of food for Walmart U.S. where he overhauled the retailer’s grocery aisles with a focus on improving its fresh offering and expanding its private brand and global sourcing capabilities. Bratspies joined the company in 2005 and has held several leadership positions at Walmart in marketing, dry grocery and general merchandise. In 2011 he received the Merchandise Excellence Business Unit Leader of the Year Award for his focus on local assortment, innovation and price leadership. Prior to joining Walmart, Bratspies served as CMO for Specialty Brands. He has held roles in finance, new ventures and marketing at Frito-Lay, and consulting positions with A.T. Kearney and Andersen Consulting.

Walmart also has made other leadership changes, including the appointment of Charles Redfield to EVP of food for Walmart U.S. Redfield joined Sam’s Club in 1988 as a cashier and moved up the ranks to serve in several operational and merchandising leadership roles, including chief merchandising officer at Asda. Most recently, Redfield served as EVP of merchandising at Sam’s Club.

In addition, John Furner will serve as EVP of merchandising at Sam’s Club. Furner was serving as chief merchandising and marketing officer at Walmart China, driving significant improvements in buying leverage and reducing organizational complexity resulting in improved profitability and price leadership, Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart says.