Julie Roehm, Wal-Mart’s senior vice president of marketing, leaves retailer

By Mya Frazier
AdAge.com
(December 5, 2006) Julie Roehm, who spearheaded the recent $580 million Wal-Mart Stores agency review, has left the company after less than a year on the job, according to a Wal-Mart spokeswoman. She joined Wal-Mart in the new position of senior VP-marketing communications in early February after a controversial stint as director of marketing communications at Chrysler.

Sean Womack, vice president of marketing communications, has also left the company, according to Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams, who did not know the tenure of Mr. Womack.

Selected DraftFCB
Ms. Roehm's departure comes a little more than a month after the retailer handed its account to Interpublic Group of Cos.' DraftFCB and its media partner on the pitch, Aegis Group's Carat.

Her role in the review was closely watched as well as her willingness to get personal with agency executives vying for the account. Most notable was her spin in the Aston Martin of Howard Draft, chairman-CEO of the DraftFCB.

Multicultural agency review
People familiar with Wal-Mart's multicultural agency review, which was being run by Ms. Roehm, said an expected decision has been delayed, but didn't know or declined to comment on why.

Ms. Williams said the retailer has no plans to release a statement or press release on the matter. "I'm simply confirming they are both gone and left earlier this week but beyond that we don't have any comment," she said.

Roehm statement
"I was hired by Wal-Mart as a change agent a little less than a year ago," Ms. Roehm said in an e-mail to Advertising Age. "One of my first orders of business was to help spearhead a comprehensive agency review. Now that I have established the Marketing Communications organization and completed the agency review, it's time to tackle my next challenge. I have enjoyed my time at Wal-Mart and I wish my many friends and colleagues there much future success."


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