Walmart has named Erin Nealy Cox as its next Executive Vice President of Global Governance, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary, strengthening the retail giant’s leadership team as it navigates an increasingly complex global regulatory and legal environment.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said Cox will assume the role on April 13, 2026. In her new position, she will oversee Walmart’s Global Governance organization, which includes global legal, compliance, ethics, corporate governance, enterprise risk management, investigations, litigation, aviation, corporate security, and digital citizenship.
Cox joins Walmart from Kirkland & Ellis, where she has served as a partner in the firm’s Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations Practice Group since 2021. Her career spans both public service and private practice, including leadership roles in federal law enforcement and cybersecurity risk management.
Previously, Cox served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, where she oversaw a wide range of federal investigations and prosecutions involving white-collar crime, national security, cybercrime, and public corruption. During her tenure, she was appointed to and later chaired the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee.
Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Cox worked as an Executive Managing Director at Stroz Friedberg, a global cybersecurity and risk management firm, where she led the company’s global incident response practice. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Texas.
Cox earned her J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law and holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin.
Walmart’s Global Governance organization plays a central role in supporting the company’s operations across legal, regulatory, and compliance functions worldwide. The company serves approximately 280 million customers and members each week through more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce platforms across 19 countries.
KEY QUOTES:
“To lead Global Governance for a company of our scale and complexity, you need a leader who has thrived in the most demanding environments. Erin is exactly that leader. She brings a rare combination of legal strategy and operational rigor that will be essential as we continue to navigate the new era of retail, while staying true to our purpose of helping people save money and live better.”
John Furner, President And Chief Executive Officer, Walmart
“Walmart is a company defined not just by its scale, but by its heart; and I am honored to join the team at such a pivotal moment. Throughout my career in both the public and private sectors, I’ve found that the best strategies are always rooted in purpose. Walmart has a clear purpose, one I believe in deeply, and I’m excited to dive in and help our teams continue to serve our customers and members when, how and where they want.”
Erin Nealy Cox, Incoming Chief Legal Officer, Walmart
