Walmart has named Latriece Watkins as the new CEO of Sam’s Club, marking a pivotal leadership shift within its membership warehouse division. The move signals Walmart's focus on strengthening operational efficiency and customer experience across its retail ecosystem.
- Latriece Watkins appointed CEO of Sam’s Club effective January 2026
- Sam’s Club generated $72 billion in revenue in FY2025
- Over 40 million active members with an average annual spend of $3,200
- Watkins has extensive retail leadership experience, including roles at Walmart U.S.
- Leadership change aligns with Walmart’s broader operational and digital transformation goals
- Reinforces Walmart’s focus on diversity and internal promotion
Walmart has appointed Latriece Watkins as the chief executive officer of Sam’s Club, effective immediately, replacing current interim leader Craig Jelinek. Watkins brings over two decades of retail leadership experience, having previously held senior roles at Walmart U.S. and other major consumer brands. Her appointment underscores Walmart's commitment to internal talent development and long-term strategic growth in its high-margin membership segment. Sam’s Club, a key component of Walmart’s omnichannel strategy, generated approximately $72 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2025, representing about 18% of Walmart’s total U.S. sales. The club business operates more than 600 locations nationwide and serves over 40 million members, with the average member spending around $3,200 annually. Watkins will lead efforts to modernize store operations, enhance digital integration, and expand private-label product offerings—critical initiatives as Walmart faces increasing competition from Amazon’s Whole Foods and Costco’s subscription model. The leadership change comes amid broader organizational restructuring under Walmart’s ongoing performance improvement plan, which includes investments in supply chain optimization and labor productivity. Analysts note that Watkins’ background in customer engagement and e-commerce could accelerate Sam’s Club’s digital transformation, particularly in areas like mobile app functionality and online ordering fulfillment. Her leadership is expected to influence Walmart’s overall retail execution and investor confidence in its mid-tier segments. Investors and industry watchers are assessing how this executive transition may impact Walmart’s stock performance, especially as the company aims to maintain earnings growth while managing rising input costs and shifting consumer preferences. The move also highlights Walmart’s emphasis on diversity in leadership, as Watkins becomes one of the few Black women to lead a major U.S. retail division.