Wal-Mart Names New Canada Head

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Monday said Lee Tappenden would take over the helm of its Canadian business from Dirk Van De Berghe, who was earlier tapped to lead the retailer's operations in China.

Mr. Tappenden has been with Wal-Mart for 20 years in various positions globally and is currently chief operating officer of the company's Canadian division, the company said in a news release.

His appointment is effective Aug. 15.

"Lee is extremely well poised to lead Walmart Canada and continue the momentum of growth we are seeing in this market," said David Cheesewright, chief executive of Walmart International.

Wal-Mart has been expanding its presence in Canada and now has more than 400 stores across the country. Last year it announced plans to build 29 new supercenters and expand its distribution network in the country.

It also agreed a year ago to buy a dozen store leases and other assets from rival Target Corp. after Target's failed attempt to expand beyond the U.S. into Canada.

Mr. Tappenden takes the helm of the Canadian operations as Wal-Mart and Visa Inc. face off over credit-card fees. The retailer has said it would stop accepting Visa cards at its stores across the country after failing to agree on terms with the credit-card processor.

The move will start with three stores in northern Ontario on July 18 and will be phased in for other locations. Visa is the largest payments network in Canada.

In a surprise move earlier this month, Wal-Mart said it would replace the chief executive of its struggling U.K. business Asda with its China head, Sean Clarke. The world's largest retailer at that time said Mr. Van De Berghe, who has headed Canadian operations since 2014, would head the China operations starting in late August.

Write to Judy McKinnon at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 27, 2016 12:25 ET (16:25 GMT)

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