Incoming Walmart chief executive John Furner started at the mega retailer as an hourly employee stocking shelves. Now, the largest U.S. company by revenue is counting on him to guide it through its next chapter.

CEO Doug McMillon on Friday announced his retirement after a decade as leader of the No. 1 company on the Fortune 500 . His last day will be Jan. 31.

Furner, 51, started his Walmart journey at a garden center in the company’s hometown of Bentonville, Ark., but will, starting in February, now take on the task of leading the company’s 2.1 million employees and operations at its nearly 11,000 stores across 19 countries.

After studying marketing management at the University of Arkansas, Furner rose through the ranks at Walmart from store manager to district manager and buyer

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