- Wal-Mart Stores announced yesterday that company vice chairman Thomas M. Coughlin will retire Jan. 24, 2005. Coughlin will not be replaced, but rather have his responsibilities divided up among a senior management team.
Coughlin joined Wal-Mart in 1978 and was named vice chairman in 2003 after serving in a number of jobs at the company. He is generally credited for Wal-Mart’s US growth, as well as the company's logistics, real estate, store planning, global procurement, compliance, and diversity divisions.
He reportedly will remain on the company’s board until June 3, when his term ends.
