SVP, Retail Media Sales & Partnerships at Walmart Connect
Building Walmart Connect into a leading retail media network and leveraging Walmart's first-party data and omnichannel scale to compete directly with Amazon Advertising.
Last updated Feb 27, 2026 by AI Enrichment
Ryan Mayward is one of the most prominent executives in retail media, leading sales and partnerships for Walmart Connect, Walmart's rapidly scaling retail media network. He has been a central figure in positioning Walmart Connect as a top-tier alternative to Amazon Advertising, helping brands leverage Walmart's first-party shopper data and omnichannel footprint to reach consumers across on-site, off-site, and in-store touchpoints. His leadership has contributed to Walmart Connect becoming a multi-billion dollar advertising business and a must-buy for consumer packaged goods and retail advertisers. Before joining Walmart, Mayward held senior roles at Amazon Advertising, where he built deep expertise in retail media, sponsored products, and performance advertising. His experience on both sides of the retail media duopoly gives him a rare vantage point on how brands can maximize return on ad spend within closed-loop measurement environments. He has been instrumental in building out Walmart Connect's advertiser relationships, agency partnerships, and self-serve platform capabilities. Mayward is widely recognized in the AdTech and retail media community as an operator who bridges the gap between large-scale retail data assets and actionable advertising solutions. He frequently represents Walmart Connect at major industry events, articulating the network's value proposition to brands navigating an increasingly complex retail media landscape.
Amazon (2016-2021)
Amazon (2013-2016)