Wal-Mart Latin America Taps Vicente Trius as President and CEO

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Executive will lead 10 Markets; more than 325,000 Associates

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 26, 2009 – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., today announced that Vicente Trius, Executive Vice President, President and CEO of Wal-Mart Asia, has been named Executive Vice President, 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, 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.”

Trius has received numerous awards and honors including ‘Executive of Value’ from the Brazilian Retail Sector in 2006 and 2007 as well as the Sam M. Walton Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006, the highest honor awarded to a Wal-Mart associate worldwide.

“I have really enjoyed my time at Wal-Mart Asia and want to thank all of our associates, suppliers, and partners who have contributed to building such a successful operation in China, Japan and India,” said Trius. “I have learned so much from this fantastic experience and am looking forward to sharing these experiences with the Latin America team.”

Wal-Mart has a significant presence in Latin America with over 325,000 associates and retail units in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.

Trius’ education includes an Executive MBA at Darden School of Business and studies at the Harvard Business School of Executive Education, Ashridge College in the U.K., and the University of Barcelona.

Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

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