Wal-Mart Names New Executives in China

SN STAFF

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here on Friday said it has named two top executives for its operations in China following the departure of both its chief financial officer and its chief development officer.

Mario-Jose Medina will be the new CFO for the growing China division, succeeding Roland Lawrence. Medina currently is CFO for Wal-Mart in Chile. Del Sloneker will be the new COO, succeeding Rob Cissell. Sloneker currently is a senior vice president at Walmart China.

Both Cissell and Lawrence left "due to personal reasons to explore other opportunities," a Wal-Mart spokeswoman told SN.

Walmart China includes about 333 locations generating $7.5 billion in annual sales, the company recently reported.

The company also said it expects to complete the acquisition of China's largest supermarket chain, Trust Mart, by the end of its current fiscal year next January. Wal-Mart had a acquired a 35% stake in the company in 2007.