Michelle Gloeckler Leaves Wal-Mart to Join to Academy Sports

Michelle Gloeckler

Michelle Gloeckler is leaving Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville at the end of August to become chief merchandising officer of Academy Sports + Outdoors of Katy, Texas.

Gloeckler has been with Wal-Mart for seven years and, as executive vice president of consumables, health and wellness, oversaw the company’s U.S. manufacturing initiative to spend $250 billion more on American-produced goods. She spent 20 years as an executive with The Hershey Company before joining Wal-Mart.

At Academy, Gloeckler will also be president of Academy International Limited, the company’s global sourcing entity.

“I’m ecstatic to join the Academy Sports + Outdoors team, and I look forward to getting to know our merchant, planning, sourcing and product development team members, along with our vendors and manufacturing partners,” said Gloeckler, 50. “I believe Academy’s everyday low price approach, community focused stores and the merchandise mix of national and private brands position it uniquely in the industry for future growth and success.”