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Wal-Mart Stores U.S. Names Two to New Management Posts

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores here has created two new Wal-Mart Stores U.S. senior management positions.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores here has created two new Wal-Mart Stores U.S. senior management positions. Bill Simon, who had headed up the professional services business, has been named chief operating officer, while Pat Curran is now executive vice president of People. Both will continue reporting directly to Eduardo Castro-Wright, president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores U.S. "Our success depends on having the right talent in key leadership positions as we roll out each stage of our three-year plan," Castro-Wright said. "Earlier this year, we named a new chief merchant and a new chief marketing officer. Today's announcement is one more step in solidifying the senior management team that will help us reach our business objectives." All five operations presidents -- representing more than 3,400 stores -- will now report to Simon. He will also have responsibility for asset protection and the professional services group, which includes the pharmacy and optical businesses, and in-store medical clinics. Simon joined Wal-Mart from Brinker International, where he was senior vice president of Global Business Development. Prior to this, he served as secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services. Simon has also held senior management positions with Diageo, Cadbury-Schweppes, PepsiCo and RJR-Nabisco. Curran began her career at Wal-Mart in 1983 as an hourly associate in the pets department, and then moved up the ranks to become a regional vice president and then divisional merchandise manager. In 2003, she was promoted to senior vice president of Wal-Mart store operations for the mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.