Incoming Walmart chief executive John Furner started at the mega retailer as an hourly employee stocking shelves. Now, the largest U.S. company by revenue is counting on him to guide it through its next chapter.

John Furner started working for Walmart in 1993. His career with the company has spanned the globe, positioning him to take the top job next year.

By Siddharth Cavale -In 2020, as COVID-19 raged, John Furner - then chief of Walmart's largest U.S. division - consulted colleagues in China, drawing on their pandemic playbook to swiftly adjust inventory forecasts and fulfillment operations to stay ahead of panic buying.

Current Walmart CEO Doug McMillon will retire in January, but will remain on the Board of Directors until the next annual shareholders’ meeting.