Wal-Mart Names Claudia Kennedy to Employment Practices Advisory Panel

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. today announced the appointment of retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy to its Employment Practices Advisory Panel, which will advise Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott and the company's executive management team about ways that Wal-Mart can enhance its employment practices. Gen. Kennedy joins former Detroit Mayor and Michigan Supreme Court Judge Dennis Archer and former Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund Vice President Vilma Martinez on the Panel, which was announced on April 24.

"We are pleased that General Kennedy, the Army's first female three-star general, has agreed to join the Employment Practices Advisory Panel and help our company continue to develop world-class employment and diversity practices," said Susan Chambers, executive vice president of Wal-Mart's People Division. "The armed services has been a leader in promoting diversity, and her perspective as a 31-year veteran of the Army will be invaluable to the Panel."

Claudia J. Kennedy joined the Army in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Rhodes College. During her career, she commanded a company, an intelligence battalion, a recruiting battalion and an intelligence brigade. As a general officer, she served as the senior intelligence officer for the U.S. Forces Command and Deputy Commanding General for the Army Intelligence Center and School. She completed her career serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Army Intelligence from 1997 to 2000, overseeing policies and operations for 45,000 people worldwide.

"I am glad to serve on this panel with Judge Archer and Vilma Martinez, who have devoted their careers to promoting the cause of diversity and strong employment practices in our country," Gen. Kennedy said. "Wal-Mart is such an important employer, and I am happy to be able to share my experience from the military with the panel and with Wal-Mart."

Wal-Mart is the nation's largest private employer, with more than 1.3 million U.S. employees, including more than 150,000 Hispanics, 225,000 African-Americans, 815,000 women and 235,000 seniors who are 55 and older.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. The company also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com/ .

More information about Wal-Mart's diversity efforts can be found by visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com/ .