Walmart Appoints Head of New Global Consumer Insights Team

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February 22, 2011

Cindy Davis was appointed executive vice president of global consumer insights for Walmart and will lead the newly created team to help both Walmart and Sam’s Club understand broad consumer trends, provide insight into customers’ needs across the world and create advanced analytical tools to support the business.

Cindy Davis

She will continue to report to Brian Cornell, president and CEO of Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

“Cindy is uniquely suited to lead the development of our new world-class Global Customer Insights team for Walmart. She is a leader that understands the importance of putting the customer at the center of everything we do, and the power insights can have on business decision making,” said Cornell. “She has demonstrated an ability to build teams and capabilities that deliver business performance today while preparing us to capitalize on our business potential for the future.”

Davis joined Sam’s Club in October 2007 as senior vice president of membership and marketing, where her focus was overall strategy, brand development and membership innovation. In August 2008, she was named executive vice president adding an e-commerce function to her responsibilities.

Prior to Sam’s Club, Davis spent more than 20 years building brands and customer relationships for companies such as Harrah’s Entertainment, Starwood and Promus (now Hilton) Hotels, and Pizza Hut as well as with agencies BBDO, Tracy-Locke and Rapp Collins Worldwide.

"One of the greatest benefits of being a global organization is the opportunity to share best practices and talent across each of our divisions and around the world,” Davis said. “Understanding customer insights enables us to focus on what our customers want and make informed decisions throughout the organization, bringing shoppers the products, brands and services they want in every country we serve.”

Davis’ successor will be named at a later date, according to a company statement.

SBD Views: Walmart joins the ranks of retailers who have named a single executive to drive development of consumer insights. Three things about this that make the appointment particularly interesting: 1) The role is global in scope involving all Walmart banners is all countries; 2) The position is outside of the marketing department where this function normally resides; and 3) Davis continues to report to Sam's Club CEO Brian Cornell. It will be interesting to see if a high profile exec with global responsibility for a mission critical function can report to the CEO of a single division of the company long term. We'll be watching Cindy Davis' progress with great interest. -- John Failla for Store Brands Decisions

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