Musical Chairs in Bentonville

A series of tumbling dominoes has placed Jim H. Haworth as the new executive vp and coo of store operations for Wal-Mart (Bentonville, Ark.). Haworth had been executive vp, operations, for the company's Sam's Club division in the United States.

The changes were precipitated by the announced retirement, on Jan. 31, 2002, of Paul Higham, senior vp, marketing and consumer communications. Robert Connolly, executive vp, general merchandise, for the Wal-Mart Stores division, will replace Higham. Don Harris, executive vp and coo of Wal-Mart store operations in the U.S., will replace Connolly. Haworth will replace Harris. And Greg Spragg, regional vp of operations for Sam's Club (with responsibility for the operations in the Western United States), will replace Haworth.

The new assignments are effective August 1.