Wal-Mart Stores Names Judith McKenna as U.S. COO

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT) named Judith McKenna chief operating officer of Walmart U.S. as the company looks to boost small format stores and ecommerce growth.

The largest U.S. retailer's shares were little changed in afternoon trading.

McKenna will lead the company's small format and ecommerce growth and logistics, and report to Walmart U.S. Chief Executive Greg Foran, the company said.

Foran had said in October that he had identified a series of "urgent agenda items" needed to boost sales.

Last month, U.S. Chief Merchandising Officer Duncan Mac Naughton left, after he struggled to lift the performance of its 4,300 U.S. stores.

The company has posted six straight quarters of flat or declining same-store sales before reporting a 0.5 percent rise in the quarter ended Oct. 31.

McKenna most recently served as chief development officer for Walmart U.S. She will now lead a team of 1.3 million associates.

McKenna, who has worked with Walmart for nearly 20 years, succeeds Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed executive vice president at the company's international people division.

The appointments were effective immediately.

(Reporting By Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das)