Latriece Watkins

Latriece Watkins is the Executive Vice President for the Walmart U.S. consumables division. She is responsible for the strategic positioning and financial performance of one of Walmart’s largest divisions, leading a business that, on its own, would be part of the Fortune 50.  Today, a majority of items on every American household shopping list fall in her portfolio. Watkins leads a team that oversees all omni merchandising strategies for the company’s baby, beauty, over-the counter pharmacy, household chemical and paper, personal care and pets business.

First joining the company as an intern in the real estate division, Watkins has served in a variety of key leadership roles within Sam’s Club and Walmart U.S. merchandising, human resources and U.S. store operations. In her two decades with the retailer, she has led several important portfolio and strategic initiatives across the company, including leading a team focused on culture change and transformation across the enterprise.  Because she has worked in so many different areas of the business, she brings a 360-degree approach to her leadership, all while keeping customers at the center of Walmart’s business. 

Watkins has championed a number of mentorship and diversity and inclusion initiatives at Walmart, including serving as chairperson for the African American Resource Group for two terms.  Currently, she leads the company’s criminal justice Shared Value Network team, which focuses on leveraging the company’s strengths and expertise to increase racial equity within the criminal justice system. 

She has won numerous professional and public service accolades.  In 2021, she was honored with the inaugural Madam C.J. Walker Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and named one of Mass Market Retailers Most Influential Women in Retail. In 2020, she was featured on FORTUNE magazine’s “Ones to Watch” list. 

Watkins currently serves as a board member for Live Nation Entertainment.  Active in the community, she also serves on the boards of the Thaden School, an independent school in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas that aims to provide holistic, enriching education to prepare students for college and the Mercy Health Foundation of Northwest Arkansas. Latriece works with a variety of local and regional chapters of non-profit organizations, including the American Heart Association; Susan G. Komen Foundation; Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Boys and Girls Club and Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.

Watkins graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in political science and received a J.D. at the University of Arkansas law school.