Walmart Names New Chief Merchant

Latriece Watkins has been named Chief Merchandising Officer at Walmart (Bentonville, Ark.), Retail Dive reports. She replaces Charles Redfield, who was with the retailer for more than three decades and Chief Merchant for about a year and announced his departure last month.

Watkins started her two decades-long career there as an intern in real estate while she was still in law school, according to an internal memo from Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner.

“Luckily for us, she decided to build a career at Walmart and has served in a variety of key leadership roles within merchandising, human resources and store operations,” Furner said in the note to employees that was emailed to Retail Dive by a company spokesperson.

“Those of you who have worked with Latriece know she is a merchant at heart and has a talent and passion for developing future leaders,” Furner said. “Her enthusiasm, talent and deep experience helped establish the omni merchandising strategy we have today, and her focus on customers and members will only strengthen our position in the future.”

Watkins takes the job as Walmart has been shedding much of its direct-to-consumer operations. Thus far this year, the retailer has sold outdoor e-retailer Moosejaw to Dick’s Sporting Goods and casual menswear brand Bonobos to Express Inc. and WHP Global.