Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced today, Oct. 9, that Brett Biggs, 47, will become the company’s new chief financial officer.
Biggs will succeed Charles Holley, who is retiring. The change is effective Dec. 31, 2015, and Holley will stay on until Jan. 31, 2016, to help with the transition. Holley, 59, has served as Wal-Mart’s executive vice president and chief financial officer since December 2010.
“Brett is a strong leader whose broad experience uniquely qualifies him to lead our finance and strategy areas,” said Wal-Mart President and Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon. “Having had a variety of important roles in all three of Wal-Mart’s business segments, Brett is well prepared. He thoroughly understands Walmart’s operations, how we intend to compete in a dynamic and changing retail environment and how we can best serve customers, associates and shareholders.”
McMillon continued: “Charles has overseen our global finance and strategy areas during a period of immense company growth and change. He has been instrumental in shaping Wal-Mart’s strong financial position while driving significant shareholder returns. One of Charles’ strengths is also talent development and succession planning. Under his leadership, Wal-Mart’s finance function has transformed into a best in class organization that is both strong and deep, highlighted by today’s appointment of Brett as our new CFO.”
Biggs will report to McMillon.
Since January 2014, Biggs has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Wal-Mart International, where he is responsible for international strategy and finance activities, including business planning and analysis, financial services, and support for real estate and mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to his current role, Biggs served as chief financial officer of Wal-Mart U.S. from January 2012 to January 2014, and as senior vice president, Sam’s Club Operations, from September 2010 to January 2012. Previously, he served in a variety of roles since joining the company in 2000, including senior vice president and chief financial officer of Sam’s Club, senior vice president corporate finance and assistant treasurer, and senior vice president, international strategy and mergers and acquisitions.
Before Wal-Mart, Biggs worked at Leggett & Platt, Incorporated on its mergers and acquisitions team. Prior to that, he was an accountant at Phillips Petroleum Company, now ConocoPhillips, and an auditor at Pricewaterhouse LLP, now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Biggs is a certified public accountant.