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Power Point: Be original

By
Jessica Shambora
Jessica Shambora
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By
Jessica Shambora
Jessica Shambora
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January 8, 2009, 10:02 PM ET

“We can’t copy. If you want to copy somebody, you’re going to be second at best, and always a step behind.”

— Doug McMillon, newly named president and CEO of Wal-Mart International. He’s succeeding Mike Duke, who is due to take Wal-Mart’s helm as CEO Lee Scott retires.

When McMillon talked with Fortune‘s Geoff Colvin in “The Colvin Interview” last October about innovation and Wal-Mart’s global growth prospects (click here for video), he was the 42-year-old CEO of Sam’s Club, a $44 billion business. If you know anyone younger running such a giant business, tell us his or her name. Now McMillon will be running a $90.6 billion business. That’s 25% of the world’s biggest company. No wonder Wal-Mart watchers say that McMillon stands a chance to be Wal-Mart’s CEO himself someday. –Jessica Shambora

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