Wal-Mart Taps Ex-Dollar General Exec to Lead People Division
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday that ex-Dollar General president Lawrence V. Jackson will join its ranks as executive vice president of the People Division, responsible for human resources strategy and programs for the company's 1.5 million associates. The move is effective Oct. 15.
Jackson, 51, had resigned as president and c.o.o. of Dollar General Corp. last Friday. He had served in that capacity for Dollar General since September 2003. David Perdue, chairman and c.e.o. of Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Dollar General Corp., said yesterday he will assume Jackson's responsibilities on an interim basis.
In his new role at Wal-Mart, Jackson will also function as a strategic advisor to other members of the company's senior management team. "Our company is experiencing a time of tremendous growth, and we need a strong leader like Lawrence to guide us through all of the challenges and opportunities that brings," said Wal-Mart c.e.o. Lee Scott in a statement. "His personal values and broad experience in the retail and food industry make him the ideal person to step into this role."
Jackson, who will report to Scott, will lead a wide range of human resource areas, including planning, training, executive development, recruiting, succession planning, human resources technology, culture change, and regulatory issues. He succeeds Coleman Peterson, who retired as e.v.p. of the People Division in April of this year.
"I have a deep passion for helping people and feel that business offers the most sustainable way of doing that," said Jackson. "Wal-Mart is a world-class company, and I think this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to directly impact its associates and huge customer base."
Jackson had been a consultant at McKinsey and Company's New York office, from 1979 to 1981. He joined the Pepsi Cola Bottling Group in 1981 and rose through the ranks to become v.p. and general manager of the company's Southeast Division in 1992. He was promoted to s.v.p. of worldwide operations for PepsiCo Food Systems in 1994. Jackson left Pepsi to become s.v.p. of supply operations for Safeway, Inc. in 1997, then joined Dollar General six years later.
Jackson, 51, had resigned as president and c.o.o. of Dollar General Corp. last Friday. He had served in that capacity for Dollar General since September 2003. David Perdue, chairman and c.e.o. of Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Dollar General Corp., said yesterday he will assume Jackson's responsibilities on an interim basis.
In his new role at Wal-Mart, Jackson will also function as a strategic advisor to other members of the company's senior management team. "Our company is experiencing a time of tremendous growth, and we need a strong leader like Lawrence to guide us through all of the challenges and opportunities that brings," said Wal-Mart c.e.o. Lee Scott in a statement. "His personal values and broad experience in the retail and food industry make him the ideal person to step into this role."
Jackson, who will report to Scott, will lead a wide range of human resource areas, including planning, training, executive development, recruiting, succession planning, human resources technology, culture change, and regulatory issues. He succeeds Coleman Peterson, who retired as e.v.p. of the People Division in April of this year.
"I have a deep passion for helping people and feel that business offers the most sustainable way of doing that," said Jackson. "Wal-Mart is a world-class company, and I think this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to directly impact its associates and huge customer base."
Jackson had been a consultant at McKinsey and Company's New York office, from 1979 to 1981. He joined the Pepsi Cola Bottling Group in 1981 and rose through the ranks to become v.p. and general manager of the company's Southeast Division in 1992. He was promoted to s.v.p. of worldwide operations for PepsiCo Food Systems in 1994. Jackson left Pepsi to become s.v.p. of supply operations for Safeway, Inc. in 1997, then joined Dollar General six years later.