Walmart appoints Chris Nicholas as President & CEO of Walmart International

Walmart has confirmed a major leadership shift in its global structure, appointing Chris Nicholas as President and Chief Executive Officer of Walmart International, effective February 1, 2026. 

Nicholas succeeds Kath McLay, who steps down from the role after a two-and-a-half-year tenure, having served in key senior roles across Walmart’s U.S. and international businesses since joining the world’s largest retailer in 2015.

Nicholas's appointment forms part of a broader leadership reorganisation announced by Walmart as it positions itself for the next era of retail, driven by innovation, platform centralisation and AI-enabled capabilities.

Commenting on the leadership changes, John Furner, Incoming President and CEO of Walmart, said, “Over my 32 years with Walmart, I’ve seen that our people are our greatest competitive advantage. These internal promotions reflect our culture of opportunity and the depth of our leadership bench. As AI rapidly reshapes retail, we are centralizing our platforms to accelerate shared capabilities, freeing up our operating segments to be more focused on and closer to our customers and members.”

Nicholas reflected on the opportunity ahead, saying, “Today, I’m excited and grateful to begin my role as President & CEO of Walmart International. The future is bright. We have strong businesses led by incredible teams across our markets, a culture of rapid innovation, and a timeless purpose to help people save money and live better. I’m energized by the opportunity ahead and excited to shape the future of global retail together. I can’t wait to get on the road.”

Nicholas’s journey in retail began early. He took his first retail job in the UK at just 14, working across pricing, shelf zoning and backroom operations. Growing up in a community where affordability mattered deeply, he credits those early experiences with shaping his philosophy on value-led retail.

“When retail is at its best, we bring innovation, we bring happiness to people’s lives, and we do it at a great price so people are able to afford what they need to have a good life,” he has shared.

Since joining Walmart in 2018, Nicholas has progressed rapidly through the organisation’s senior leadership ranks. Prior to leading Sam’s Club, he served as EVP and Chief Operating Officer of Walmart U.S. from 2021 to 2023, overseeing store operations and supply chain. He has also held the role of Chief Financial Officer for both Walmart U.S. and Walmart International, in addition to serving as SVP Deputy CFO for Walmart International and as a board member at Walmart de México (Walmex). Having lived and worked across more than nine countries, Nicholas now returns to Walmart’s international business to steer its global retail strategy.

Alongside Nicholas’s appointment, Walmart has named Seth Dallaire as Executive VP and Chief Growth Officer, David Guggina as President and CEO of Walmart U.S., and Latriece Watkins named President and CEO of Sam’s Club U.S. Together, these moves advance Walmart’s People Led, Tech Powered strategy as the company enters its next phase of retail transformation.