Trius to head Wal-Mart Latin America

BENTONVILLE, Ark. Wal-Mart Stores announced that Vicente Trius, EVP, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Asia, has been named EVP, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Latin America.

Trius led the Wal-Mart Asia operation for the past year, during which time he supervised the opening of more than 40 new stores in China, the introduction of Every Day Low Pricing to Japan through the company’s Seiyu unit and continued progress with that unit’s turnaround, as well as the completion of the company’s first distribution center in India, and the anticipated opening of its first wholesale cash and carry facility there during the second quarter of 2009.

Based in the Latin America regional office in Miami, Trius will assume his new role July 6. His successor in Asia will be named at a later date. In the interim, the Wal-Mart Asian operations will report to Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Wal-Mart International.

Prior to the Asia regional office, Trius led Wal-Mart Brazil for 11 years -- a period during which the company grew from its first stores to a successful national retail operation with 319 outlets and 63,000 associates.

“His prior experience in Brazil and his knowledge of emerging markets makes him the ideal candidate to lead our Latin American operations,” McMillon said. “In addition, his contributions to Wal-Mart Asia with stores in China, Japan and India have positioned Wal-Mart for strong growth in the region. Under his leadership, Wal-Mart established a regional headquarters in Hong Kong. He has also been a global champion of Wal-Mart’s social and environmental sustainability programs, most notably hosting the first global supplier sustainability summit in Beijing.”