Walmart is shaking things up in its advertising division. The retail giant is restructuring Walmart Connect, its U.S. advertising arm, by cutting some jobs while creating new positions. This move aims to keep up with fast-changing technology in the advertising world. About 1,500 employees across Walmart’s global tech and U.S. retail teams will be affected by these changes.
Key Takeaways
- Walmart is restructuring its advertising division to improve efficiency and spark innovation while eliminating approximately 1,500 positions across tech and retail teams.
- The company is creating new roles focused on digital growth while removing others to streamline operations and speed up decision-making.
- Les Conway took over as the new head of Walmart Connect on May 5, 2025, signaling a leadership shift during this transformation.
Why Walmart is Making These Changes
Technology waits for no one. Not even Walmart. The retail behemoth is racing to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital advertising landscape where yesterday’s innovations become today’s old news.
The restructuring is part of Walmart’s broader strategy to simplify operations. They’re cutting through layers of complexity like a hot knife through butter. The goal? Speed up decision-making and encourage innovation among employees.
“The realm of technology is advancing at an extraordinary rate, and reconfiguring our structure enables us to expedite our responses and adaptations to the evolving landscape,” stated an internal memo from Walmart. The language might be corporate, but the message is clear: adapt or get left behind.
What’s Changing at Walmart Connect
Walmart Connect isn’t just getting a trim. It’s getting a complete makeover. Some roles are disappearing. New ones are popping up. The division is being reshaped to align with Walmart’s business priorities and growth strategy.
Les Conway stepped in as the new head of Connect on May 5, 2025. Fresh leadership for fresh challenges. Connect leaders have already announced new roles in the personal care segment, though it’s not clear if these are part of the larger reorganization effort.
The Bigger Picture
Walmart isn’t operating in a vacuum. The entire retail industry is shifting. Digital-first strategies aren’t optional anymore—they’re essential.
This restructuring affects about 1,500 employees across Walmart’s global tech and retail teams. That’s a significant number. But for a company with over 2 million employees worldwide, it represents a targeted adjustment rather than a massive overhaul.
The changes at Walmart Connect reflect the company’s determination to keep its advertising division a strong profit driver. In today’s retail environment, selling products isn’t enough. The data generated by those sales has become nearly as valuable as the sales themselves.
For Walmart, this restructuring isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s about survival and growth in a digital ecosystem that evolves faster every year. As technology continues to reshape retail and advertising, companies must evolve or risk becoming obsolete. Walmart’s moves show they’re choosing evolution, even when it means making tough decisions about their workforce and structure.
