Walmart Names New China CEO, President

CHINA - Walmart have announced that Greg Foran, senior vice president for Walmart International, has been named president and CEO of Walmart China. Foran will relocate to China, pending work visa approval, and assume his new role effective March 1.

7 February 2012

3 minute read

Asia

A thirty-year retail veteran, Foran joined Walmart in October 2011. Prior to that, he grew his career in New Zealand and Australia from a part time job stocking shelves to head of Woolworths’ Supermarket Division. Foran held several senior roles within Woolworths including General Manager of Big W, the company’s discount department store division, and Dick Smith, which specializes in consumer electronics. His experience includes operations, merchandising, marketing and replenishment.

“With his distinguished career in retail, Greg is uniquely qualified to lead our growing business in China,” said Scott Price, president and CEO of Walmart Asia and interim CEO for Walmart China. “I’m very pleased he is bringing his talents to help us continue Walmart’s expansion there and enhance our efforts to help Chinese customers save money so that they can live better.”

“I’m honored to have the privilege to lead our business in China and serve our customers there,” Foran said. “China is a very important market for Walmart and I look forward to working with our 100,000 associates.”

Walmart entered the Chinese market and opened its first Supercenter and Sam’s Club in Shenzhen in 1996. Currently, Walmart operates a number of formats and banners in China including Supercenters, Sam’s Clubs and Neighborhood Markets. As of Feb. 2012, Walmart had over 370 units in 140 cities, and had created about 100,000 job opportunities across China, where the company has been recognized as a “Best Employer” and as the “Best Retail Place to Work.”