Walmart Names Erin Nealy Cox as Chief Legal Officer

Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) named Erin Nealy Cox as Executive Vice President of Global Governance, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary, effective April 13, 2026.

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Cox to lead Global Governance team and assume role as Corporate Secretary

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ: WMT) announced today that Erin Nealy Cox has been named Walmart’s next Executive Vice President of Global Governance, Chief Legal Officer (CLO), and Corporate Secretary. Cox will assume responsibilities on April 13, 2026.

Erin Nealy Cox, Walmart’s next Executive Vice President of Global Governance, Chief Legal Officer (CLO), and Corporate Secretary.

“To lead Global Governance for a company of our scale and complexity, you need a leader who has thrived in the most demanding environments. Erin is exactly that leader,” said Walmart President and Chief Executive Officer John Furner. “She brings a rare combination of legal strategy and operational rigor that will be essential as we continue to navigate the new era of retail, while staying true to our purpose of helping people save money and live better.”

Cox joins Walmart from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she has served as a partner in the Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations Practice Group since 2021. She previously served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, where she led a broad range of federal investigations and prosecutions, including matters involving white-collar crime, national security, cybercrime, and public corruption. She was appointed to and then chaired the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee.

Before her U.S. Attorney appointment, Cox was an Executive Managing Director at Stroz Friedberg, a global cybersecurity and risk management firm, where she led its global incident response practice. Her earlier career also included nearly a decade of service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the same district she served as U.S. Attorney. Cox earned her J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law and her B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin.

“Walmart is a company defined not just by its scale, but by its heart; and I am honored to join the team at such a pivotal moment,” said Erin Nealy Cox. “Throughout my career in both the public and private sectors, I’ve found that the best strategies are always rooted in purpose. Walmart has a clear purpose, one I believe in deeply, and I’m excited to dive in and help our teams continue to serve our customers and members when, how and where they want.”

Walmart’s Global Governance organization includes global legal, compliance, ethics, corporate governance, digital citizenship, enterprise risk management, litigation, aviation, investigations, and corporate security, including Walmart’s Global Security Operations Center.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 270 million customers and members visit more than 10,750 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2025 revenue of $681 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260312066547/en/

Media Relations Contact
Walmart Global Press Office
press@walmart.com

Source: Walmart Inc.

Key Terms

cybersecurity technical

Cybersecurity involves protecting computers, networks, and digital information from theft, damage, or unauthorized access. It is essential for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining trust in digital systems, which matters to investors because strong cybersecurity reduces the risk of costly breaches and disruptions that can impact a company’s performance and reputation. Think of it as locking and safeguarding valuable information much like securing a safe to prevent theft.

white-collar crime financial

Nonviolent, financially motivated wrongdoing carried out by businesspeople, executives, or professionals using deception, breach of trust, or abuse of position—examples include fraud, insider trading, embezzlement, and bribery. It matters to investors because these crimes can drain assets, trigger fines and lawsuits, damage a company's reputation, and invite stricter oversight, much like a hidden leak that suddenly reduces a ship’s value and makes other sailors wary of boarding.

corporate governance regulatory

Corporate governance is the system of rules, roles and oversight that determines how a company is directed and controlled, including the responsibilities of its board, executives and shareholders. Like the steering wheel and map for a car trip, it shapes decisions, sets checks on power and defines who can hold leaders accountable; strong governance reduces risk, builds trust and helps investors judge whether a company is likely to protect capital and deliver reliable returns.

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