Wal-Mart Stores has filled the position of COO within its US business for the first time in eighteen months with the appointment of Gisel Ruiz to the role.
Ruiz, who had led human resources for the retailer’s domestic unit, will become its COO next week (1 February).
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She will be the first COO within Wal-Mart’s US operations since June 2010 when Bill Simon was promoted to president and CEO of the business.
In her previous role, Ruiz also led Wal-Mart’s “store innovation organisations”. The retailer said she had brought in changes that boosted efficiency and improved the “experience” for customers and employees.
“I’m incredibly excited to see Gisel’s impact on the stores,” Simon said. “She started in our stores, ran stores and, more importantly, understands the perspective of our associates like no one else on our leadership team. That’s invaluable. For nearly 20 years, Gisel has proven herself to be a strong and capable operator.”
Ruiz’s appointment was announced alongside a clutch of other executive moves at Wal-Mart.
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By GlobalDataThe announcements also included the news that Brian Cornell, president and CEO of Wal-Mart’s US warehouse arm Sam’s Club, is set to quit the role after deciding he wanted to move back to the north-east of the country for family reasons.
Roz Brewer, president of Wal-Mart’s eastern business unit in the US, will replace Cornell on 1 February.
