Clarke confirmed as Asda CEO

BENTONVILLE, Ark. Walmart officially named Andy Clarke as head of its Asda unit in the United Kingdom, ending speculation that began last week following former CEO Andy Bond’s unexpected decision to relinquish the top job. Bond will remain as chairman, and Clarke assumes the role of president and CEO immediately. Clarke is an Asda veteran who joined the company in 1992 and progressed through a variety of roles that began with store manager. He left the company for a brief period from 2001 to 2005 to join Matalan, but returned to Asda as a retail director and was named COO in 2007. Bond said Clarke was the right choice for the job following a review of internal and external candidates.

Commenting on the leadership transition, Walmart international division president and CEO Doug McMillon said, “At Walmart and at Asda, we have a robust succession planning and talent development process and Andy Clarke has long been identified as a leader. He is the ideal person for the job and this will be a seamless leadership change.”