Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato built their careers inside companies that reach people in very different ways. McMillon helped expand Walmart’s business beyond store aisles into online shopping and home delivery. Duato leads Johnson & Johnson as it concentrates on prescription medicines and medical technology.
As of October 2026, McMillon is Walmart’s former president and chief executive, having retired on January 31, 2026. Duato remains Johnson & Johnson’s chairman and CEO. Their careers offer two examples of how executives promoted from within approach a changing business, from choosing which services to expand to deciding which operations belong in a separate company.
Their Careers at a Glance
| Career detail | Doug McMillon | Joaquin Duato |
| Company | Walmart | Johnson & Johnson |
| Main industry | Retail | Healthcare |
| Became CEO | February 2014 | January 2022 |
| Earlier leadership experience | Sam’s Club and Walmart International | Pharmaceuticals, consumer health and corporate operations |
| Position in October 2026 | Former president and CEO | Chairman and CEO |
Doug McMillon and the Transformation of Walmart
McMillon’s Walmart career began in 1984 with an hourly summer job in a distribution center. He picked orders and unloaded trailers before eventually moving into management and merchandising. That background placed him close to the practical work of getting products from suppliers to customers.
His route to the top included two substantial leadership assignments. He ran Sam’s Club from 2005 to 2009, then led Walmart International from 2009 through January 2014. The international role gave him responsibility for retail operations across different markets before he succeeded Mike Duke as Walmart CEO.
Connecting Stores With Digital Shopping
During McMillon’s tenure, Walmart developed its e-commerce business while continuing to use its physical stores to serve shoppers. Customers gained more ways to receive purchases, including curbside pickup and delivery. The approach connected digital ordering with the company’s existing retail network.
Walmart+ became a concrete example of that strategy when it launched in September 2020. Its initial benefits included deliveries from stores, fuel discounts and access to mobile Scan & Go shopping. Customers of Delivery Unlimited, an earlier delivery subscription, automatically became Walmart+ members.
McMillon’s record also includes investment in employees. Walmart increased wages, expanded parental leave and funded education opportunities. These changes addressed the working conditions and development of the people staffing its stores and supporting its operations.
The Limits of the Walmart Health Expansion
Some expansion efforts ended in retreat. In April 2024, Walmart announced plans to close all 51 Walmart Health centers and its virtual care business. The company cited rising operating costs and a challenging reimbursement environment that made the business unsustainable. Its pharmacies and vision centers continued operating. The decision marked the end of an attempt to build a broader medical-clinic business alongside retail.
Joaquin Duato and the Shift Toward Medical Innovation
Duato spent more than three decades at Johnson & Johnson before becoming chief executive on January 3, 2022. His earlier responsibilities extended across business divisions and corporate functions, giving him experience beyond a single product category.
As vice chairman of the executive committee, he provided strategic direction for pharmaceuticals and consumer health while overseeing information technology and the global supply chain. Those responsibilities combined decisions about products with the systems required to manufacture and distribute them. He added the chairman’s role in January 2023.
What the Kenvue Separation Changed
One of the largest changes completed during Duato’s leadership was the separation of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health business into Kenvue in August 2023. Familiar brands including Tylenol, Neutrogena and Listerine became part of the separate business.
The timing matters when assigning responsibility for the decision. Johnson & Johnson announced its intention to separate consumer health in November 2021, before Duato became CEO. He led the company through completion of a plan already underway.
After the separation, Johnson & Johnson operated through two business segments: Innovative Medicine and MedTech. The change concentrated its business on developing medicines and medical technologies, with consumer health managed separately. Understanding that structure helps explain the scope of Duato’s job and the kinds of investments the company makes.
How Healthcare Changes the Leadership Task
Duato’s stated priorities include oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular care, surgery and vision. He also champions artificial intelligence and the combination of technology with professional expertise.
Acquisitions have helped expand the company’s medical technology portfolio. In May 2024, Johnson & Johnson completed its purchase of Shockwave Medical, adding a business focused on cardiovascular intervention. The deal followed an agreement valuing Shockwave at approximately $13.1 billion, including cash acquired.
The comparison with McMillon requires care because healthcare development follows a different path from retail services. Johnson & Johnson identifies clinical success, regulatory approvals, manufacturing and product safety among its business risks. A promising development program can therefore face obstacles before a product reaches patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Succeeded Doug McMillon
John Furner became Walmart’s president and CEO on February 1, 2026. He previously led Walmart U.S., a position he had held since 2019.
Who Did Joaquin Duato Replace
Duato succeeded Alex Gorsky as Johnson & Johnson’s CEO in 2022 and as chairman in 2023. Gorsky served as executive chairman during the transition.
What Did Doug McMillon Study
McMillon earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from the University of Tulsa.
Where Did Joaquin Duato Study
Duato earned an MBA from ESADE in Barcelona and a Master of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.
Does Joaquin Duato Have Spanish and American Citizenship
Yes. Duato holds citizenship in both Spain and the United States.
Conclusion
Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato offer useful case studies in changing an established company. McMillon’s record spans digital retail expansion, employee investment and an unsuccessful clinic business. Duato’s centers on a more focused healthcare company whose progress depends on medical development and execution.
