Rewrites to add company response, updates dateline

May 13 (Reuters) - Walmart WMT.O said it has eliminated some roles to simplify its operating structure as the world's largest retailer ramps up a digital transformation to better compete with Amazon.com AMZN.O, Costco COST.O and Aldi.

The company said it was "evolving as one global enterprise" and had moved to a unified platform and had consolidated teams, updated roles and "aligned positions to key locations."

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Tuesday that Walmart would cut or relocate about 1,000 corporate workers, citing people familiar with the matter.

• "We are making organizational changes to simplify how work is structured across our global operating model," Walmart said in a statement.

• "These changes are intended to create clearer ownership and minimize overlap and as a result, some roles have been eliminated," the company added, declining to share the specific number of employees impacted.

• Head of global AI acceleration Daniel Danker and head of global technology Suresh Kumar have reviewed the retailer's internal structures and decided to streamline some teams to operate more efficiently, the WSJ report said, citing the leaders as saying in a memo sent to staff.

• Under new CEO John Furner and a reshaped leadership team, the retailer is doubling down on a tech-focused strategy as it woos higher-income shoppers and builds its marketplace and delivery businesses.

• Affected staff can apply for open roles within the company, the WSJ reported, citing the memo.

• Many of the affected staff have been asked to relocate to Walmart's Bentonville or Northern California offices, the report said, citing the people familiar with the situation.

• Walmart reports quarterly results on May 21.