Management Transition Continues at Sam’s Club

Bentonville, Ark. Longtime Wal-Mart International executive Ignacio Perez has been named executive VP, operations, at Sam’s Club following the retirement of Greg Johnston, according to an internal announcement this morning from Wal-Mart president and CEO Mike Duke.

Johnston’s retirement is the latest development in an ongoing transformation of Sam’s Club’s senior-leadership team that began last fall with the retirement of former executive VP, merchandising, Greg Spragg. In early January, former Sam’s Club president and CEO Doug McMillon was named president and CEO, Wal-Mart International. The appointment of Perez to replace Johnston comes as the top jobs at Sam’s Club and the head merchant position are still vacant.

Perez previously served as president and CEO of Wal-Mart Central America since August 2006, but has held numerous positions with the company during the past 21 years. He held a number of management positions in food, merchandising, real estate and people at Cifra, prior to the Mexican retailer becoming known as Wal-Mart de Mexico and was responsible for the start-up operation of Sam’s Club in Mexico. In November 2001, Perez was promoted to president and CEO, Wal-Mart Argentina. In October 2003, he was appointed president and CEO, Wal-Mart Puerto Rico.

“Ignacio’s success is attributed to his focus on relationships, accountability and trust. His passion for associates, coupled with high expectations for performance, has created strong results wherever he has served,” Duke said in an e-mail distributed to Sam’s Club employees.

The appointment of Perez follows the resignation of Greg Johnston who leaves the company after a 26 year career that began in 1982 when he was hired to shag carts at a Wal-Mart stores in Rogers, Ariz. Johnston advanced to hold positions of increasing responsibility in store management and operations, culminating with his appointment in 2005 to the position of executive VP of operations.