Latriece Watkins makes history as first Black woman to lead Sam’s Club
Latriece Watkins became Sam’s Club’s first Black woman CEO after a Walmart career that began as an intern in 1997 and rose through merchandising leadership.
Latriece Watkins became the first Black woman to lead Sam’s Club when her appointment as president and CEO of Sam’s Club U.S. took effect on February 1, 2026. Walmart announced the move on January 16 as part of a broader leadership reshuffle tied to John Furner’s transition to chief executive, putting a longtime insider in charge of one of the company’s most visible businesses.
Watkins’ rise inside Walmart stretches back nearly three decades. She joined the company as an intern in 1997, later became executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Walmart U.S., and helped steer the assortment strategy for the chain’s massive domestic operation. Walmart has said she played a role in driving operational excellence and keeping the shopping experience consistent, a background that matters in a club business built on inventory discipline, fast turns and member traffic.
The job she inherited is a big one by any measure. Sam’s Club U.S. had 601 clubs in the United States as of January 31, 2026, and Walmart has said the division generated $90.2 billion in revenue for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2024. The business is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Watkins is now responsible for steering it through a period when members are using more digital tools and expecting more from each trip.
That shift was already visible before Watkins stepped in. Walmart said Sam’s Club U.S. membership reached record highs in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, while Scan & Go, curbside pickup and delivery continued to gain traction with members. For club managers and hourly associates, that means the work is not just about filling pallets and ringing up carts anymore. It is also about speed, app-based checkout, pickup flow and keeping shelves aligned with what members want most.
Watkins also brings a symbolic weight that extends beyond Bentonville. Her promotion landed just before Black History Month, underscoring both the rarity of the milestone and Walmart’s long-running message that its top leaders can come up through the company. In Watkins’ case, the path ran from intern to the executive suite, then into one of retail’s largest leadership seats.
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