Last updated on November 20th, 2019
Kathryn McLay has been named president and CEO of Bentonville, Arkansas-based Sam’s Club. Her most recent responsibility had been EVP of Neighborhood Markets, where she led the growth and overall operations of nearly 700 stores across the U.S. McLay joined Walmart in 2015 as the VP of U.S. finance and strategy, where she led the legacy strategy. She was then promoted to SVP of supply chain.
McLay began her career at Deloitte in 1992 while she finished her business degree and her postgraduate studies in psychology at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. After seven years in both external and internal audit, she moved to Qantas where she was promoted to internal audit manager. In 2001, McLay made the jump to retail, where she joined Woolworths’ and had a number of roles in retail and supply chain, including the GM for cost, northern logistics operations manager for warehousing and transportation, and GM of replenishment.
“Kath has a track record of success in every role she has taken on. Her ability to deliver results today, develop a vision for the future and lead the change necessary to achieve it is compelling. She is curious and courageous. Kath builds trust and is a servant leader. She understands the details of retail given her audit, supply chain and operational experience. John Furner and the Sam’s Club team have strengthened our foundation and built momentum. Kath will help build on that and take it to the next level. We look forward to seeing her contributions to this part of our business,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart Inc.
McLay, her husband Jason and their three children made the move from Australia to Bentonville, Arkansas, in April of 2015.
