Walmart Latin America President and CEO Named
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has appointed Enrique Ostalé, president and CEO of Walmart Chile, formerly D&S, EVP, president and CEO of Walmart Latin America, in which capacity he’ll oversee the mega-retailer’s operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.
From Walmart’s Latin American regional office in Mexico City, Ostalé will begin his new role on March 1. His predecessor, Eduardo Solórzano, will retire but will continue as chairman of the board of directors at Walmart de México.
Ostalé joined D&S in 1989 as the manager of the company’s finance division, merchandising division and Lider format division, and then rose to CFO. In 2000, he left D&S to become CEO of El Mercurio Online, the website for Chile’s El Mercurio newspaper. He was dean of the business school of Adolfo Ibanez University from 2002 to 2006, when he left to rejoin D&S as president and CEO. After Walmart’s acquisition of D&S in 2009, Ostalé played a key role in D&S’s transformation to Walmart Chile.
Gian Carlo Nucci, currently EVP and COO of Walmart de México, will replace Ostalé as president and CEO of Walmart Chile. Nucci joined Walmart de México in 1993 and held several roles, including responsibilities for all Sam’s Club operations in Mexico, before becoming VP, VIPS Restaurants, in 2003. He was then VP, Superama, before rising to SVP, Sam’s Club and then EVP, specialized formats. Nucci became COO of Walmart de México in January 2010.
“Eduardo, Enrique and Gian Carlo have each made contributions that have fostered the development of Walmart in Latin America,” noted Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart International. “For 27 years, Eduardo has been a champion for our customers in Mexico and across Latin America, and [will stay] on as chairman of Walmart de Mexico. Under his leadership, the first Walmart Bank was founded, Central America became part of Walmart de México and the Every Day Low Prices strategy extended to Central and South America. Likewise, Enrique’s leadership in Chile has been key to both the successful integration of D&S with Walmart following our 2009 acquisition, and also to Walmart Chile’s ongoing success. Gian Carlo’s experience and record of accomplishments at Walmart de México ensure we will continue to innovate in service to our customers in Chile.”
“Walmart’s Latin American operations hold tremendous potential for our company,” Ostalé said. “I [intend] to expand our mission across the region to provide many more families, many of whom today lack access to products and services at low cost, the opportunity to live better lives.”
Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart has more than 373,000 associates and 3,832 retail units in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.