Latriece Watkins

Executive Vice President, President and CEO, Sam's Club U.S. · Walmart

RetailBentonville, AR

Executive Vice President and President and Chief Executive Officer of Sam's Club U.S. since 1 February 2026. She joined Walmart in 1997 as a real estate intern and held leadership roles across real estate, Sam's Club, Walmart U.S. merchandising, human resources and store operations, most recently as Chief Merchandising Officer of Walmart U.S. She has been a director of Live Nation Entertainment since 2021.

Last reviewed: Oct 1, 2026

Latriece Watkins

Executive Vice President, President and CEO, Sam’s Club U.S. Walmart

Last Reviewed: October 1, 2026

Executive Summary

Latriece Watkins has run Sam’s Club U.S. since 1 February 2026, nearly three decades after joining Walmart as a real estate intern. She has worked across many parts of the company: real estate, Sam’s Club, Walmart U.S. merchandising, human resources and store operations. Most recently she was Chief Merchandising Officer of Walmart U.S. A lawyer by training, she is described by Walmart as leading by Sam Walton’s belief that “we’re all merchants”. She also sits on the board of Live Nation Entertainment.

Career Highlights

  • Executive Vice President, President and CEO of Sam’s Club U.S. since 1 February 2026.
  • Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer, Walmart U.S. from May 2023 to February 2026.
  • Executive Vice President, Consumables, Walmart U.S. from December 2020 to May 2023.
  • Joined Walmart in 1997 as a real estate intern.
  • Independent director of Live Nation Entertainment since 2021.

Professional Journey

Watkins earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Spelman College and a Juris Doctor at the University of Arkansas School of Law. She joined Walmart in 1997 as a real estate intern.

Over the following two decades she held leadership roles across real estate, Sam’s Club, Walmart U.S. merchandising, human resources and store operations. In December 2020 she became Executive Vice President, Consumables, for Walmart U.S., and in May 2023 Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer, overseeing Walmart U.S.’s merchandising and manufacturing teams.

In January 2026 Walmart named her President and CEO of Sam’s Club U.S., effective 1 February, succeeding Chris Nicholas, who moved to lead Walmart International. Walmart’s biography says her leadership is grounded in Sam Walton’s belief that “we’re all merchants” and in the idea that disciplined execution turns strategy into results.

She has served on the board of Live Nation Entertainment since 2021 as an independent director, and its shareholders re-elected her in June 2026.

Education

Spelman College

Bachelor’s degree, Political Science

University of Arkansas School of Law

Juris Doctor