Roehm Out at Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart's high-profile marketing exec, Julie Roehm, abruptly left on Monday, after just 10 months on the job.

No timeframe has been set to name a replacement, a Wal-Mart spokesperson said.

Roehm's surprise departure triggered speculation that Wal-Mart could put its $570 million advertising and marketing account back into play just months after the retailer hired DraftFCB on the account. Wal-Mart won't comment on whether it will reconsider the assignment.

Roehm oversaw the review that in October shifted the account to Chicago-based DraftFCB and media firm Carat from ad shops GSD&M, Austin, TX, and Bernstein-Rein, Kansas City.

News reports quote Wal-Mart insiders who say Roehm's handling of the agency review may have contributed to her departure. Wal-Mart's top brass didn't feel that Roehm kept them up to speed as the review progressed, and Roehm may have accepted gifts from agencies during the review that made Wal-Mart executives uncomfortable, the reports said.

Wal-Mart has a strict ethic against gifts to employees. In fact, the retailer is known for its policies that prohibit outside vendors even from treating Wal-Mart staffers to lunch.

Roehm joined Wal-Mart in February from DaimlerChrysler, where she had been director of communications. Wal-Mart's spokesperson declined to say whether the company would replace Roehm from within, or hire again from the outside.

The company also let go Sean Womack, vice president of communications architecture, who worked closely with Roehm. He, too, is expected to be replaced.

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