Canadian meat firm Maple Leaf Foods has named Walmart executive Geert Verellen as its new chief financial officer, effective 6 January.

Verellen replaces Debbie Simpson in the role. Simpson, who had been CFO five years, announced in August she was stepping down “to take on a new challenge in a new industry”.

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The new man joins from Walmart where he served as regional chief financial officer for the retail giant’s operations in Canada, India and Japan.

Before joining Walmart in 2015, he held various finance roles at Delhaize Group, a Belgian-based grocer (now part of Ahold Delhaize), and subsequently became CFO for its Belgian operations.

Michael McCain, president and CEO of Toronto-listed Maple Leaf, said: “Geert’s breadth of financial knowledge and his extensive food retailing experience will be an important asset to Maple Leaf Foods.

“His proven capabilities in communicating finance to analysts, investors and the public will help us articulate our vision and strategy effectively going forward.”

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