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Walmart China Names Alibaba Veteran Liu Peng to Lead Sam’s Club

The appointment signals a shift toward localized, data‑driven, member‑focused operations in China as the chain scales.

Overview

  • Liu Peng takes office effective immediately as president of Sam’s Club China, reporting to Walmart China CEO Zhu Xiaojing.
  • Acting head Jane Ewing will conclude her assignment and return to Walmart International at the end of 2025.
  • Liu previously held senior roles at Alibaba, including GM of Tmall Global and president of its import/export and B2C retail units.
  • Walmart reported strong FY2026 Q2 results in China with $5.8 billion in net sales and double‑digit Sam’s transaction growth, alongside nearly 60 clubs in 30+ cities and e‑commerce accounting for over half of sales.
  • Industry commentary views the hire as a signal of deeper localization, more agile supply chains, and tighter online‑offline integration, with specific operational changes still emerging.