Walmart appoints former American Airlines CEO to board
Walmart has appointed Tom Horton, the former chairman and chief executive of American Airlines, as a new member of its board.
Horton has become the 16th member of the Walmart board and will also become a member of the company’s audit committee.
Having joined American Airlines in 1985, he left the business in 2002 for AT&T but later re-joined before becoming chairman and chief executive in 2011. He is credited with leading American Airlines through a successful restructuring and turnaround which culminated in the merger with US Airways.
He stepped down as president and chief executive in December 2013 and remained non-executive chairman of the board until June 2014.
Never Miss a Retail Update!Commenting on Horton’s appointment, Walmart chairman Rob Walton said: “Tom’s management and business experience and, in particular, his roles in operational and financial management at American Airlines will bring valuable insights to the board.
“His broad leadership roles combined with his global insights and understanding of the corporate issues a multinational company manages will benefit the board, our management team and our shareholders.”
Horton added: “I’ve long admired Walmart’s values and its successful record of improving people’s lives around the world. Walmart has a strong leadership team backed by a solid business plan and is building new and innovative ways to serve customers. I look forward to working with my new colleagues on the board.”
