Wal-Mart Executive Shakeup

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (Bentonville, Ark.) announced the retirement of one executive and the promotion of two others to take his place.

Don Harris, executive vp, general merchandise, said he is retiring after a 23-year career with the company. He will stay on until April 30, 2004, to assist in the transition.

Claire Watts, senior vp, product development, has been promoted to executive vp, merchandising. She will keep responsibility for the product development area, but also assume new responsibility for Wal-Mart's apparel and home furnishing merchandise programs. She will also become a member of Wal-Mart's executive committee and report to Mike Duke, president and ceo of the Wal-Mart Stores U.S. division.

Doug Degn, executive vp, food merchandising, will add responsibility for several other merchandise categories such as toys, electronics, sporting goods, lawn and garden and entertainment products.

Harris joined Wal-Mart in 1980 as a management trainee and has spent 17 of his 23 years with the company in general merchandise positions at all levels, including serving in his current position since 2001.

Watts joined Wal-Mart in 1997 after an 18-year retail career with several different companies including Limited Stores, Lands' End and May Department Stores. Earlier this year, she was honored with the Sam M. Walton “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award, the highest internal award given to the company's senior management team.

Degn, a pharmacist by training, joined Wal-Mart in 1983. Since that time, he has served in a variety of executive positions within the pharmacy division and more recently in the merchandise area. He was the Walton Entrepreneur of the Year award-winner in 1997.