Indian retailer taps former Wal-Mart China execs

Bangalore, India -- According to multiple reports on Monday, India’s largest retailer has hired two former executives of Wal-Mart Stores’ China operations as its two top executives.



Reliance Industries Ltd., which operates 1,000 retail stores across India selling everything from produce to electronics, has named Rob Cissell as CEO of Reliance Retail Ltd. and has named Shawn Gray as COO.



Citing an unnamed source, the reports said that both executives are former Wal-Mart China leaders, Cissell the former COO and Gray the VP over store operations. Their appointments are said to be effective in September and, said the source, are part of plans Reliance has to set up wholesale stores akin to those that Wal-Mart runs in India.