Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato: Their Roles at Walmart and J&J

Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato are two well-known names in American business. Both have held top leadership positions at major companies. McMillon led Walmart, one of the world’s largest retailers, while Duato leads Johnson & Johnson, a global healthcare company.

Although they work in different industries, their careers share some similarities. Both spent many years working their way up through their companies. Their experience helped them understand business operations, manage large teams, and make important decisions.

McMillon retired as Walmart’s CEO in January 2026, while Duato continues to serve as chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson. Their backgrounds, leadership roles, and business achievements provide a useful look at how large companies grow and change.

Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato: Roles at a Glance

Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato built successful careers through years of work and leadership experience. Both became CEOs after holding several senior positions within their companies.

However, their daily responsibilities were quite different. McMillon focused on retail stores, online shopping, workers, and customer service. Duato focuses on medicines, medical devices, healthcare research, and patient needs.

Quick Comparison of Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato

Who Is Doug McMillon? Early Life and Career

Doug McMillon is an American business leader best known for serving as Walmart’s president and CEO. He joined the company in 1984 as an hourly worker at a distribution center. His first job helped him learn how products move from warehouses to stores.

McMillon studied accounting at the University of Arkansas. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tulsa. His education, along with years of practical experience, helped prepare him for larger management roles.

During his career, McMillon worked in several parts of Walmart’s business. He became president and CEO of Sam’s Club in 2005 and later led Walmart International. These positions gave him experience in managing stores, employees, suppliers, and customers across different markets.

In February 2014, McMillon became Walmart’s president and CEO. He held the position for nearly 12 years before retiring on January 31, 2026. John Furner became Walmart’s new CEO on February 1, 2026.

Doug McMillon’s Role and Responsibilities at Walmart

As Walmart’s CEO, Doug McMillon was responsible for guiding the company’s growth and daily business direction. He helped make important decisions about stores, employees, technology, and long-term business plans.

One of his main goals was to make shopping easier for customers. Walmart expanded its online shopping services, grocery pickup, and home delivery options during his leadership. Customers could choose how they wanted to shop instead of depending only on physical stores.

McMillon also supported better technology inside Walmart’s stores and warehouses. The company invested in tools that helped manage products, improve delivery services, and reduce delays. Employee training and education programs were also important parts of Walmart’s plans.

Doug McMillon’s Main Leadership Priorities

His work at Walmart focused on several important areas:

• Affordable shopping: Keeping everyday products available at competitive prices.
• Online shopping: Improving Walmart’s website, mobile app, and delivery services.
• Employee support: Expanding training, education, and career opportunities.
• Modern technology: Using better systems to manage inventory and warehouses.
• Business growth: Helping Walmart compete in U.S. and international markets.

These priorities helped Walmart serve customers in stores and online while preparing the business for future changes.

How Doug McMillon Helped Transform Walmart

Walmart changed significantly during McMillon’s time as CEO. When he took the position in 2014, the company already had a large network of stores. However, online shopping was becoming more important, and Walmart needed to compete with major internet retailers.

McMillon helped Walmart invest more heavily in digital shopping. Customers gained more ways to order groceries, household goods, and other products. Walmart also expanded its online marketplace, allowing other businesses to sell products through its website.

The company launched Walmart+ in 2020 and continued growing its grocery pickup and delivery services. These changes helped connect Walmart’s physical stores with its online business. Many stores also became locations where workers prepared online orders for nearby customers.

Walmart reported about $681 billion in revenue for fiscal 2025. Its revenue increased to approximately $713.2 billion in fiscal 2026. These results show the company’s large size and continued growth, although many factors beyond the CEO’s decisions contributed to its performance.

McMillon’s years as CEO helped shape Walmart into a business that combines traditional stores with online services. His leadership also showed the importance of changing with customer needs while keeping the company’s focus on value.

Who Is Joaquin Duato? Education and Career Background

Joaquin Duato is a Spanish-American business executive who serves as chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson. He began working for the company in Spain in 1989 and later held leadership positions in different countries.

Duato earned an MBA from ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. He also completed a master’s degree in international management at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. His education helped him build knowledge of business, management, and international markets.

Over the years, Duato worked in several areas of Johnson & Johnson’s healthcare business. He became worldwide chairman of its pharmaceutical business in 2011. In 2018, he became vice chairman of the company’s executive committee, taking on wider leadership responsibilities.

Duato became CEO of Johnson & Johnson on January 3, 2022, after Alex Gorsky. He also became chairman in January 2023. His long career with the company gave him experience in medicines, healthcare products, technology, and global business operations.

Joaquin Duato’s Role and Responsibilities at Johnson & Johnson

As chairman and CEO, Joaquin Duato helps guide Johnson & Johnson’s business plans, investments, and future direction. The company develops medicines and medical technology used by doctors, hospitals, and patients.

Johnson & Johnson operates mainly through two businesses. Innovative Medicine develops treatments for serious health conditions. MedTech produces medical devices and tools used in healthcare. Both businesses require research, testing, safety checks, and government approval where needed.

Duato helps decide where the company should invest money and resources. He also oversees business growth, new product development, and major company changes. These decisions can affect future treatments, hospital technology, and the company’s financial results.

His leadership also involves managing risks. New medicines can take many years to develop, and not every treatment succeeds. Medical devices must meet safety and performance standards. Duato’s role is to balance business growth with these important healthcare responsibilities.

How Johnson & Johnson Has Changed Under Joaquin Duato

Johnson & Johnson has made several major business changes during Duato’s leadership. One important step was separating its consumer health business into a company called Kenvue in 2023. This allowed Johnson & Johnson to focus more closely on medicines and medical technology.

The company has also increased attention on major health needs, including cancer, immune system diseases, brain and nerve conditions, heart health, surgery, and vision care. These areas offer opportunities to develop treatments and technologies that may improve patient care.

In 2025, Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate its DePuy Synthes orthopedic business. This part of the company develops products used in bone and joint care. As of October 2026, the separation was still planned, with a target around mid-2027.

The company’s financial results show continued growth. Johnson & Johnson reported $94.2 billion in sales for 2025, an increase of 6% from the previous year. In the third quarter of 2026, sales reached $25.4 billion, up 5.9% compared with the same period in 2025.

However, not every business area grew at the same rate. Medicine sales were stronger than medical technology sales in that quarter. This shows why Duato must pay attention to different parts of the company rather than focusing only on overall growth.

Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato: Leadership Styles Compared

Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato have different leadership experiences because they worked in different industries. McMillon’s main focus was making shopping easier and more affordable. Duato focuses on developing healthcare products and improving the company’s position in medical markets.

Both leaders spent many years inside their organizations before becoming CEOs. This experience helped them understand company operations, employees, and customers. It also allowed them to build relationships with teams across their businesses.

McMillon’s approach included making Walmart more convenient through technology and store improvements. Duato’s approach focuses more on scientific research, new treatments, and medical technology. Their priorities reflect the different needs of retail and healthcare customers.

Walmart and Johnson & Johnson Leadership Comparison

Both leadership approaches have strengths, but success depends on business needs, good decisions, and long-term results.

Why Their Leadership Matters to American Consumers

Walmart plays an important role in everyday shopping across the United States. Millions of Americans visit its stores or use its online services to buy groceries, clothing, household products, and other goods.

Decisions made during McMillon’s leadership helped shape how these customers shop. Grocery pickup, online ordering, and home delivery gave people more options. These services are especially useful for customers who want to save time or avoid extra trips.

Johnson & Johnson affects Americans in a different way. Its medicines and medical devices are used to treat diseases and support healthcare services. Decisions about research and product development can influence the treatments available to doctors and patients.

Both companies also provide jobs and work with many other businesses. Their decisions can affect workers, suppliers, local communities, and the wider U.S. economy. This makes their leadership important beyond the companies themselves.

Business Challenges and Lessons From Their Careers

Leading a large company brings difficult decisions. Doug McMillon had to manage Walmart’s costs while keeping prices competitive. The company also faced changing shopping habits, growing online competition, and pressure to improve employee support.

Joaquin Duato faces challenges related to healthcare research, competition, medicine pricing, product safety, and government rules. Johnson & Johnson also continues to deal with legal issues involving some of its products, including talc-related lawsuits.

Both careers show that business success takes more than increasing sales. A company must also build trust, support employees, manage risks, and prepare for future changes. Strong financial results matter, but they do not tell the whole story.

Their careers also show the value of learning different parts of a business. Both men gained years of experience before becoming CEOs. That knowledge helped prepare them for leadership, although experience alone cannot guarantee success.

Final Thoughts

Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato have played important roles in two major American companies. McMillon helped Walmart expand its online services and improve shopping convenience during his years as CEO. Duato continues to lead Johnson & Johnson as it focuses on medicines and medical technology.

Their careers show how business leaders can take different paths while working toward company growth. McMillon’s experience is mainly in retail, while Duato’s background is in healthcare.

As of October 2026, McMillon is Walmart’s former CEO, and Duato remains Johnson & Johnson’s chairman and CEO. Both are important figures in understanding modern American business leadership.

(FAQs)

1. Who are Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato?

Doug McMillon is a former Walmart CEO who led the retail company from 2014 to January 2026. Joaquin Duato is the chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson.

2. Is Doug McMillon still the CEO of Walmart?

No, Doug McMillon retired as Walmart’s CEO on January 31, 2026. John Furner became the company’s new president and CEO on February 1, 2026.

3. When did Joaquin Duato become CEO of Johnson & Johnson?

Joaquin Duato became CEO of Johnson & Johnson on January 3, 2022. He later became chairman in January 2023.

4. Did Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato work together?

Doug McMillon and Joaquin Duato are known for leading different companies. McMillon worked at Walmart, while Duato built his career at Johnson & Johnson.

5. What is Joaquin Duato’s main responsibility at Johnson & Johnson?

Joaquin Duato is responsible for guiding Johnson & Johnson’s business strategy and future growth. He oversees the company’s work in medicines and medical technology.