Latriece Watkins, an African American long-time Walmart executive, is the new president and CEO of Sam’s Club, the members-only wholesale chain. She brings decades of experience in merchandising and store operations, promising to push innovation and growth at the company.
Watkins started at Walmart in 1997 as a real estate intern and steadily climbed the ranks. She led merchandising across categories like snacks, beverages, and beauty, eventually managing store operations. In 2023, she became Walmart’s chief merchant, overseeing $500 billion in products sold annually.
“My team and I get to choose all the items that customers experience at Walmart. We consider ourselves their personal shoppers,” Watkins said in a podcast. She also helped attract higher-income shoppers, showing her focus on understanding customer needs and improving their experience.
Just three years after becoming chief merchant, Watkins was promoted to lead Sam’s Club, as reported by Essence. Analysts expect her customer-focused approach and merchandising expertise to shape the company’s future, with technology and innovation at the forefront.
Watkins will face competition from Costco and Amazon as she works to expand Sam’s Club’s market share. Growing private-label products and boosting e-commerce and convenience services are likely to be key priorities. She emphasizes combining technology, quality, and value while keeping customers at the center of every decision.
Her appointment as CEO takes effect February 1. Watkins credits her love for retail to growing up near a Walmart, where shopping sparked her interest in the industry long before she started her career.