WAL-MART NAMES MENZER CAO IN REALIGNMENT
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here said that John Menzer, vice chairman, will assume the responsibilities of chief administrative officer, and that Eduardo Castro-Wright, president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart's U.S. operations, will now report directly to Lee Scott, president and CEO of the company. Menzer's move will allow him to focus more on global procurement, “an area of increasing strategic importance,” Scott said in a statement. “Additionally, John will focus his time and attention on expanding our growing financial services business to benefit the underserved.” Menzer will continue to oversee information systems, benefits, sustainability, compliance and corporate planning, in addition to “providing an ongoing review of more effective and efficient capital expenditures.” Having Castro-Wright report directly to Scott “makes sense,” given that he runs the company's largest division, Scott said. Castro-Wright previously reported to Menzer.
K.V. MART HIRES ALVARADO AS EXECUTIVE VP, COO
CARSON, Calif. — K.V. Mart Co., a 22-store chain in Southern California, has hired Vincent Alvarado as executive vice president, chief operating officer. He replaces Phil Gentile, who has retired after spending more than 50 years in the grocery industry, and the past 25 at K.V. Mart. In his new post, Alvarado will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of K.V. Mart and will report to the owners of the company, Darioush Khaledi, chairman and chief executive officer, and Paul Vazin, president. Alvarado brings to K.V. Mart more than 26 years of experience in the retail industry, including 13 at Wal- Mart. For the past two years he was COO of a high-volume Hispanic-formatted grocery chain in Northern California.
HUNTER NAMED VP OF SAVE MART'S ALBERTSONS
MODESTO, Calif. — Save Mart Supermarkets here said Woody Hunter has been named to the new position of vice president, Coastal Division — the new division created primarily from the 130 Albertsons stores that Save Mart acquired last year. (See Page 33 for more on the integration of the Albertsons stores.) Hunter's previous title at Save Mart was regional director for the acquired locations, the same title he held in his previous role at Albertsons.
FAMILY DOLLAR TAPS LEE AS SVP, GLOBAL SOURCING
MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar here has named Wook Lee as senior vice president of global sourcing. In this new position, Lee will have responsibility for the development of the company's comprehensive global sourcing strategy. Lee previously served nine years with Target Corp., where his last position was as global vice president of production service. More recently, he was president of A&O Consulting.
