Julie Roehm got a call from her boss’s assistant at 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 4. J. John Fleming, then chief of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.‘s marketing department, wanted a word with his senior vice-president. Walking to Fleming’s office at the Bentonville (Ark.) headquarters, Roehm recalls thinking she was about to be fired. She was right. Ten months after being recruited to help modernize Wal-Mart’s tired brand, Roehm was out.

The meeting lasted seven minutes, Roehm says. A “very nice” human resources manager collected her company badge, Palm Treo, corporate credit card, and, yes, Wal-Mart discount card. Then the HR representative escorted Roehm out a side door to the parking lot. (BW)

The rest of the article provides details about Roehm’s short stay.