Wal-Mart names Trius ceo of Latin America operation

-- Home Textiles Today, 5/27/2009 8:30:00 AM

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. today named Vicente Truis executive vp, president and ceo of Wal-Mart Latin American.

Trius led the Wal-Mart Asia operation for the past year, overseeing more than 40 new store openings in China, the introduction of Every Day Low Pricing to Japan through the company's Seiyu unit, and the establishment of the company's first distribution center in India. Prior to the Asia regional office, Trius led 319-unit Wal-Mart Brazil for 11 years.

Truis will be based in the Latin America regional office in Miami and assumes his new role July 6. He will be responsible for retail operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.

The company has not yet named a successor. Doug McMillon, president and ceo of Wal-Mart International, will oversee the division in the interim.

"His prior experience in Brazil and his knowledge of emerging markets makes [Trius] the ideal candidate to lead our Latin American operations," McMillon said. "In addition, his contributions to Wal-Mart Asia with stores in China, Japan and India have positioned Wal-Mart for strong growth in the region. Under his leadership, Wal-Mart established a regional headquarters in Hong Kong. He has also been a global champion of Wal-Mart's social and environmental sustainability programs, most notably hosting the first global supplier sustainability summit in Beijing."