Since 2019, Suresh Kumar has served as the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer for Walmart, underscoring the retail giant’s commitment to technological innovation and digital transformation. Notably, Kumar is a seasoned technology leader with nearly 30 years of experience.
As the global CTO, Kumar is responsible for charting Walmart's technical strategy and leveraging cutting-edge advancements in computing to enhance the customer experience. This role is crucial at a time when technology is reshaping the retail landscape, and Walmart aims to stay at the forefront of this evolution.
Moreover, as the global CDO, Kumar leads a dynamic team dedicated to digitally transforming Walmart's operational processes. Harnessing the vast scale and power of data, his team drives innovation and provides a competitive edge – while also enhancing the productivity of Walmart's associates.
Kumar's extensive portfolio of responsibilities extends across Walmart's diverse global businesses, including Walmart U.S., Sam's Club, and Walmart International. Furthermore, he oversees critical functions such as global shared services, data management, cloud infrastructure, and information security—areas that are central to Walmart's technological prowess.
Kumar's career journey showcases a remarkable track record in technology leadership. Prior to joining Walmart, he held key positions at tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and IBM. His tenure at Google saw him manage a wide array of advertising products and services, while at Microsoft, he oversaw the expansion and transformation of cloud infrastructure. Kumar's significant contributions at Amazon were evident in his work automating crucial supply chain and retail processes, which allowed the business to experience exponential growth.
Before entering the corporate world, Kumar conducted pioneering research at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, displaying his deep technical acumen.
Kumar holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Technology from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. His academic achievements underscore his strong foundation in technology and engineering.
Previously, Walmart's CEO, Doug McMillon, has expressed his enthusiasm about Kumar joining the team, highlighting Kumar's profound understanding of the synergy between technology and retail. McMillion emphasized that technology opens up unprecedented avenues to serve customers and associates, making Kumar's appointment timely and strategic.
At one point, Kumar himself acknowledged the journey that Walmart is on, describing it as a "very exciting digital transformation." With over 10,500 stores, a rapidly growing eCommerce business, and a global workforce of more than two million associates, the potential for technology to drive positive change at scale is enormous, and Kumar has shown himself to be eager to be part of this transformative journey.
Notably, Kumar’s wealth of experience and deep understanding of technology's role in retail continues to position Walmart to continue its remarkable growth and customer-centric approach in an increasingly digital world.