By Siddharth Cavale

-In 2020, as COVID-19 raged, John Furner – then chief of Walmart’s largest U.S. division – consulted colleagues in China, drawing on their pandemic playbook to swiftly adjust inventory forecasts and fulfillment operations to stay ahead of panic buying.

Furner, a Walmart lifer who grew up in Arkansas where the retailer is headquartered, had lived in China for roughly two years. China, ground zero for the pandemic, had begun retooling supply chains and was months ahead of the U.S. in making decisions. Furner drew on that experience to understand what customers would need, he told reporters at the time.

When he takes the top job at Walmart on Feb. 1, his collaborative leadership style and deep company knowledge will be tested as he steers the firm through tough economic

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