Simon Named CEO of Walmart U.S.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here on Tuesday said it had shifted the longtime leader of its U.S. business, Eduardo Castro-Wright, to be president and chief executive officer of its global sourcing operations, and elevated Bill Simon to be president and CEO of Walmart U.S.

Eduardo Castro-Wright

The move will allow Castro-Wright, who remains vice chairman, to relocate to California to be "closer to his family during his wife's illness," said Mike Duke, president and CEO, Wal-Mart, in a prepared statement. Wal-Mart's Global.com and Global Sourcing divisions, which will be led by Castro-Wright, are based in California.

In a memo to employees, Castro-Wright explained that his wife, Fabiola, is recovering from a heart transplant.

Simon, a retired Navy officer, joined Wal-Mart in 2006 and most recently had been chief operating officer at Walmart U.S. Before joining Wal-Mart, he was senior vice president of global business development at restaurant company Brinker International, and before that was secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services.

“Bill is a strong leader who has made a positive difference from his first day at Walmart,” said Duke, noting that he "transformed the customer experience at Walmart through faster service, a friendlier shopping environment and cleaner stores" and also helped develop and launch the company's $4 prescription drug program. "He is a talented strategist and an excellent people manager with strong execution skills.”