Mike Duke joins Carlyle Group private equity

Mike Duke, the former CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., has joined the global consumer and retail group of private equity firm The Carlyle Group.

He will began work at Carlyle this month, according to a release from the Washington, D.C.-based company.

Duke stepped down from Wal-Mart in February of last year and joins a group of more than 25 senior business executives who provide strategic guidance to Carlyle to help it buy and invest in companies.

Carlyle has invested about $12 billion of equity in dozens of retailers like Dunkin Brands and Beats headphones. The private equity firm had about $194 billion of assets under management as of Dec. 31.

Duke remains on the Wal-Mart board of directors.