Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced that its board of directors nominated Marissa A. Mayer of Google Inc. for election as a new member of the company’s board at Wal-Mart’s annual shareholders’ meeting on June 1. If elected, Mayer would become the 16th member of the board.
“At Walmart, we are focused on giving our millions of customers around the globe ‘anytime anywhere’ access whether it is through a mobile device, online or in a physical store,” said Walmart Chairman Rob Walton. “We are on the cusp of a massive transformation in the way people shop in our increasingly connected world. Marissa’s insights and expertise in the technology and consumer areas are valuable assets to Walmart as we move forward.”
“I am very excited to be nominated for the Walmart board,” said Mayer. “I have long been a customer and admirer of the company. Walmart is an amazing story of entrepreneurship and, as one of the world’s most powerful brands, touches millions of lives every day. I look forward to contributing to Walmart’s continued growth, success and innovation in the years to come.”
Mayer, 36, is VP of local and maps for Google Inc. in Mountain View, Calif., a position she has held since 2010. She leads the product management and engineering efforts of Google’s local, mobile and local-based products. Mayer previously served as Google’s VP of search products and user experience, beginning in 2005. Mayer began her career with Google in 1999 as its first female engineer and has launched hundreds of products and features during that time.
Mayer holds a bachelor’s degree in symbolic systems and a master’s degree in computer science from Stanford University. She serves on the boards of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Ballet, the New York City Ballet and the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
