Former Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke joins Carlyle Group as consumer and retail adviser

Mike Duke, the former CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., has joined the global consumer and retail group of private equity firm The Carlyle Group.

Duke, who stepped down from the helm of the world's largest retailer in February 2014, joins a group of more than 25 senior business executives who provide strategic guidance to Carlyle to help it buy and invest in companies, the Washington, D.C.-based firm said Thursday.

Duke began his duties in mid-April.

Since its inception, Carlyle has invested about $12 billion of equity in 70 transactions in the consumer and retail arena, including Dunkin' Brands, Philosophy, and Beats headphones.

Duke joined Wal-Mart in 1995 as senior vice president of distribution and had a number of roles in the company. Before assuming the top job, he was vice chairman, overseeing the company's international business, a job he held from 2005 to 2009. He served as president and CEO from 2009 to 2014 and still serves on Wal-Mart's board.

The Carlyle Group had $194 billion of assets under management across 128 funds and 142 fund of fund vehicles as of Dec. 31, 2014.