Wal-Mart Canada Chief to Retire; Asda C.O.O. Named Successor

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario -- After seven years at the helm of Wal-Mart Canada and 45 years with the company, president and c.e.o. Mario Pilozzi has said he will retire effective Jan. 31, 2008.

Pilozzi, 61, has built a "distinguished career in Canadian retail" spanning more than four decades, according to Wal-Mart Canada. He has received numerous awards and honors, including Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year (2007), induction into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame (2004), and the Sam M. Walton Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2000), the highest honor awarded by Wal-Mart throughout the world.

Pilozzi joined Wal-Mart Canada in 1994 following more than 30 years with Woolworth Canada, where he held a range of leadership positions with that company's variety and discount-store divisions.

"Under [Pilozzi's] leadership, Wal-Mart Canada has scaled new heights in terms of expansion,
growth of the associate base, and corporate social responsibility," said Mike Duke, vice chairman of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., in a statement. "Among his many achievements, Mario has championed Wal-Mart's groundbreaking environmental sustainability program in Canada."

Succeeding Pilozzi will be David Cheesewright, who will join Wal-Mart Canada as president and c.e.o. effective Feb. 1, 2008. Cheesewright, 45, is currently chief operating officer of ASDA, Wal-Mart's operation in the United Kingdom. His career spans more than 20 years in the retail and manufacturing sectors. He joined ASDA in 1999 and over the past eight years held leadership positions in operations, merchandising, logistics, strategy, and format development.

From 2004 to 2005, Cheesewright served as c.o.o. for Wal-Mart Canada, based in Mississauga, before returning to ASDA as c.o.o. Prior to his career with ASDA, he held a range of key positions with
Mars Confectionary in the United Kingdom in sales, marketing, supply chain, and manufacturing.

Wal-Mart Canada operates a growing network of 298 outlets across Canada.
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