epa05168459 (FILE) A file photo dated 27 August 2015 showing the entrance to a Walmart store in Decatur, Georgia, USA. Retail giant Walmart disappointed investors with unimpressive figures and a reduced sales forecast in its quarterly report released 18 February 2016 in the United States. Profit was 4.6 billion dollars in the fourth quarter, representing a fall of 7.9 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. Total revenue fell by 1.4 per cent to 129.7 billion dollars, the world's largest retailer said. International sales came under pressure from the strong dollar, Walmart said, adding that it expected sales to stagnate in 2016.  EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Walmart Canada president reassigned to China

Big box retailer undergoes an executive shuffle in three countries including Canada

dirk-van-den-berghe-picture-360x240The president of Walmart Canada is moving to China as part of an executive shuffle in three countries.

Dirk Van den Berghe (pictured) will become president and CEO of Walmart China as well as regional president of Walmart’s Asia business, which includes operations in Japan.

He replaces Sean Clarke, who will head up Walmart’s struggling Asda chain in the U.K. Clarke, in turn replaces Andy Clarke, who spent six years as head of Asda and has put in 20 years with the company.

Walmart made the announcement on Monday, but Van den Berghe isn’t expected to take on his new role until Aug. 22.

Walmart said it would name a new president of the Canadian operations shortly.

Van den Berghe became president of Walmart in Canada two years ago. Previously he had been CEO of Delhaize Group’s supermarket business in Belgium and Luxembourg. He also previously worked for Delhaize in Asia.

Under his leadership, the Canadian division expanded its supercenter format, grew its grocery business and launched online click and collect services in Ottawa and Toronto.

Walmart has reported eight consecutive quarters of same-store growth in Canada. In its most recent quarter, same-store sales grew 6.7%, driven by traffic growth of 4.6%.

Canada and Mexico have been among the bright spots of the company’s international division in recent years. Asda in the U.K. has been one of its laggards, in part due to stiff competition from Germany’s hard discounters, Aldi and Lidl.

Van den Berghe is “well positioned” to lead Walmart’s China and Japan businesses “due to his prior roles in Asia and his deep knowledge of the retail business from his time in Europe,” David Cheesewright, president and CEO of Walmart International, said in a statement.

This article originally appeared at CanadianGrocer.com.

Photography by The Associated Press
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