Tammy Sadinsky leaves Walmart for CIBC

After less than three years as the top marketer at Walmart, Tammy Sadinsky has left the retailer to join CIBC.

Walmart declined to comment on plans to replace Sadinsky. “Tammy made wonderful contributions to the marketing team during her time at Walmart Canada and we wish her the best in her exciting new role,” said a Walmart spokesperson.

While Sadinsky has moved to the banking industry, much of her career had been in retail and food. She joined Walmart in February 2018 after spending more than four years at Tim Hortons, rising to the position of chief marketing officer for Canada. But most of her early career was at General Mills in various marketing roles in Canada and the U.S. on brands such as Green Giant, Yoplait, Pillsbury and Cheerios.

While her time at Walmart was relatively short, she was in charge of the brand at a time of significant change. Walmart hired a new ad agency soon after Sadinsky joined, usually a sign a brand wants to improve its marketing or at least change direction. The business also made decisive moves to expand its online and delivery options and introduced a new retail format intended to attract more urban millennial families and invested heavily in remodelling existing stores.

The last year of course, was dominated by COVID. Like most major retailers, marketing plans written at the start of 2020 had to be thrown out in March. Walmart responded quickly with advertising that retained a bright and optimistic tone, while still acknowledging the extraordinary circumstances of shopping and being open for business at a challenging time.

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