Walmart hired David Tovar in 2006, who worked his way up to the role of the company’s chief spokesman by 2014. As he went up for another promotion, third-party screeners (a.k.a. reference checkers) found that Mr. Tovar had lied on his application and had never completed his degree from the University of Delaware as he had claimed on his résumé. This information was discussed at length in the media and Mr. Tovar soon resigned from Walmart.64 LO.1