Michael T. Duke, ISyE 1971, has been named president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, effective February 1, 2009. Duke was also elected to the company's board of directors, effective November 21, 2008.

Duke has served as vice chairman, leading Wal-Mart International, since 2005. Under his leadership, the company's international business has become a fast-growing part of Wal-Mart's overall operations with over 3,200 stores and 620,000 associates in 14 markets outside the continental United States. Duke joined Wal-Mart in 1995. Since then, he gained broad experience throughout the company, leading the Logistics, Distribution and Administration Divisions as well as U.S. Operations. As Vice Chairman, Duke has been actively involved in developing and executing corporate strategy. Prior to joining the company, Duke had 23 years of experience in retailing with Federated Department Stores and May Department Stores.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the US-China Business Council as well as CIES-The Food Business Forum, and is on the Executive Board of Conservation International's Center for Environmental Leadership in Business.

While at Georgia Tech, Duke excelled at academics in the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. His involvement is ongoing with his fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi. His ISyE background contributed to his expertise in Logistics, Distribution, and Administrative Divisions. Giving the grand opening address at Technology Square, Duke says, "Georgia Tech has played a critical role in the past. I would never be in the job that I am in today were it not for the training and discipline received along with the sacrifice made while here at Georgia Tech*.

Mike Duke was also named to NEWSWEEK Magazine's Top 50 of the Global Elite. Coming in at number 26, Duke beat out such notable names as Steve Jobs, Michael Bloomberg, and Pope Benedict VVI. He has also been consistently ranked in the top 20 of Forbes Global 2000 for the past five years.

Duke and his wife, Susan have three children, a son and two daughters.