Wal-Mart Names Lee Tappenden as New Canada Head
June 27 2016 - 12:36PM
Dow Jones News
By Judy McKinnon
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Monday said Lee Tappenden would take
over the helm of its Canadian business from Dirk Van De Berghe, who
was earlier tapped to lead the retailer's operations in China.
Mr. Tappenden has been with Wal-Mart for 20 years in various
positions globally and is currently chief operating officer of the
company's Canadian division, the company said in a news
release.
His appointment is effective Aug. 15.
"Lee is extremely well poised to lead Walmart Canada and
continue the momentum of growth we are seeing in this market," said
David Cheesewright, chief executive of Walmart International.
Wal-Mart has been expanding its presence in Canada and now has
more than 400 stores across the country. Last year it announced
plans to build 29 new supercenters and expand its distribution
network in the country.
It also agreed a year ago to buy a dozen store leases and other
assets from rival Target Corp. after Target's failed attempt to
expand beyond the U.S. into Canada.
Mr. Tappenden takes the helm of the Canadian operations as
Wal-Mart and Visa Inc. face off over credit-card fees. The retailer
has said it would stop accepting Visa cards at its stores across
the country after failing to agree on terms with the credit-card
processor.
The move will start with three stores in northern Ontario on
July 18 and will be phased in for other locations. Visa is the
largest payments network in Canada.
In a surprise move earlier this month, Wal-Mart said it would
replace the chief executive of its struggling U.K. business Asda
with its China head, Sean Clarke. The world's largest retailer at
that time said Mr. Van De Berghe, who has headed Canadian
operations since 2014, would head the China operations starting in
late August.
Write to Judy McKinnon at judy.mckinnon@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 27, 2016 12:21 ET (16:21 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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