Wal-Mart Stores Inc has announced that Bill Simon has been promoted to president and CEO of Walmart US, while vice chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright has been appointed president and CEO of Global.com and Global Sourcing. Castro-Wright, who will also continue to serve as vice chairman, and Simon will report directly to Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke. Simon will assume his new responsibilities immediately, while Castro-Wright will be transitioning through August 1.
“As we continue to become a truly global company and address the business challenges of a rapidly changing world, it is clear that Global.com and Global Sourcing are critical to our future growth and success,” Duke said. “We are fortunate to have someone as strategic and knowledgeable as Castro-Wright leading the teams to drive these initiatives forward at a faster pace. Appointing him to this role demonstrates our commitment and the importance we assign to these areas and to building the next generation Walmart,” he continued.
Asserting that Simon was responsible for successfully running more than 3,700 stores and leading 1.3 million associates in the US, Duke said, “He [Simon] transformed the customer experience at Walmart through faster service, a friendlier shopping environment and cleaner stores. He also helped develop and launch our game-changing $4 prescription drug programme and has continued to drive innovation and improvement throughout Walmart US.”
Castro-Wright will be relocating to the West Coast and will work from the company’s Global.com office in California.
Simon, most recently chief operating officer, joined Walmart US in March 2006 from Brinker International, where he was senior vice-president of global business development and was responsible for the growth of the company’s restaurant portfolio outside the US.
– IndiaRetailing Bureau
