Walmart Poaches Its New Marketing Chief from Rival Target

(Bloomberg) -- Walmart Inc. has found its new marketing chief at rival Target Corp.

William White, a senior vice president of marketing at Target, will take the top marketing job at Walmart effective May 11, according to an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg News. White, a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, joined Target in 2013 and oversaw category and brand marketing, including the retailer’s ubiquitous “Target Run” campaign. At Walmart, White will report to Chief Customer Officer Janey Whiteside and fill a role that’s been vacant for nearly a year since the departure of Barbara Messing.

Walmart’s marketing efforts have expanded in recent years as the retailer has sought to publicize fast-growing areas of its business like curbside grocery pickup, which it promoted in a Super Bowl ad earlier this year featuring famous movie characters. Walmart’s essential role as the nation’s leading grocer during the coronavirus pandemic -- along with efforts to built Covid-19 testing sites in its parking lots -- has put the corporate brand front and center in the U.S. retail landscape.

White will lead a team of six, the memo said. Target has not yet named anyone to fill White’s role, which reports to the retailer’s chief marketing, digital and strategy officer Rick Gomez.

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