Kathryn McLay

Kathryn McLay, an Australian who joined Walmart in 2015, became CEO of the company’s $115 billion international division last year, landing a role that has in the past been a launching pad into the Walmart CEO job. She got the position based on her strong performance leading Walmart’s Sam’s Club division during the pandemic, including a significant refresh of Sam’s product assortment; she also pushed in-store shopping tech innovations that outdid rival Costco’s. In her first year at the helm of Walmart International, the unit, which serves customers in 18 countries, has continued to grow, including a 8.3% hike in net sales last quarter as McLay bolsters the profitability of Walmart's e-commerce in overseas markets.