David D. Glass: Second Wind for Wal-Mart Just three years ago, it looked as though Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had finally hit the wall. Profit growth was slowing, and investors were fleeing. But DAVID D. GLASS, Wal-Mart's CEO since 1988, has managed to infuse the retailing giant with much-needed new energy and direction. His biggest success: a foray into the grocery business, with giant ''supercenters'' that sell general merchandise and food. And now Glass, 63, is experimenting with smaller food markets, too. That's helped revive Wal-Mart on both Main Street and Wall Street. Glass's secret has been his knack for maintaining the personal touch that Wal-Mart's legendary founder, Sam Walton, used to build his discount stores into the largest retail chain on the globe. Like Walton before him, Glass often hangs out in Wal-Mart stores, mixing with staffers. Earlier this year, he even worked the door as a greeter in stores in Florida and Pennsylvania, to make good on a bet with employees after they reached their earnings goal. But there's more than fun and games at work here. Using Wal-Mart's vaunted distribution and information systems, the low-key Glass has an ambitious strategy to build the chain into a truly global brand. It's already the dominant chain in Mexico and Canada. Glass says more acquisitions abroad are likely this year, particularly in Europe. Glass is already getting results. Wal-Mart's earnings--and stock--are soaring. And after years of costly investment, even international is now adding to the bottom line. One increasingly pressing question, however, is who will succeed Glass. Some top contenders have left in recent years to lead other companies. Glass promises he's luring talented outsiders to the Wal-Mart ranks and preparing the next generation to lead the giant discounter. But don't expect a transition anytime soon. ''I don't want to go anywhere because I'm having a lot of fun,'' he says. RELATED ITEMS The 25 Top Executives of the Year COVER IMAGE: The Top 25 Executives of the Year TABLE: The Honor Roll Timothy A. Koogle: Shouting Yahoo! Jurgen E. Schrempp: Deal of the Decade Charles R. Schwab and David S. Pottruck: Schwab's E-Gambit Nobuyuki Idei: Sony's Visionary Steven P. Jobs: A Boss's Life Millard S. Drexler: Daddy Gap Marilyn Carlson Nelson: Travel Titan Craig R. Barrett: Intel's Ironman Robert W. Pittman and Stephen M. Case: Making AOL A-O.K. Kwok Yuen Ho: Wizard of 3-D David D. Glass: Second Wind for Wal-Mart L. Dennis Kozlowski: Compulsive Shopper Scott G. McNealy: Java's Percolator Karen L. Katen: Pfizer's Pep Pill Stephen M. Wolf and Rakesh Gangwal: High Fliers Ferdinand Piech: Baron Von Bug Richard A. McGinn: Light Speed Walter V. Shipley: Bank Roll Michael S. Dell: Nerdy Like a Fox John T. Chambers: Cisco's Live Wire Lloyd Ward: Front-Load Lion Allan Wong: Toy Story Jorma Ollila: Finn Fatale Leo J. Hindery Jr.: Cable Cowboy Edward E. Whitacre Jr.: The Busiest Bell Executives to Watch in 1999 The Top Entrepreneurs Return to main story

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