The world’s biggest retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc named Murali Lanka as the Chief Operations Officer of its Indian subsidiary with effect from December 1.
Lanka will lead store operations, sales and business development, membership and marketing and asset protection functions for the Best Price Modern Wholesale stores, Wal-Mart India, the wholly owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc, it said in a statement.
He will report to Krish Iyer, President and CEO, Wal-Mart India.
Announcing the appointment, Iyer said: “His depth of knowledge and global experience will bring a fresh perspective to our business. He is a veteran at Wal-Mart with almost 25 years in the company.”
He further said Lanka’s experience in food and general merchandise and commitment to e-commerce will help the company serve customers even more effectively in the years to come.
Murali had joined Wal-Mart in 1989 and played various roles in its Sam’s Club.
In 2008, he came to India as the Head of Operations and spent five years before repatriating to US in 2013 as the Developmental Regional General Manager in the Texas division.
Wal-Mart India owns and operates 20 Best Price Modern Wholesale stores in eight states across India. The first store opened in Amritsar in May 2009.
Earlier in April this year before the general elections, Wal-Mart had announced that it would focus only on wholesale business and decided to stay away from multi-brand retail in India.
It had announced plans to open 50 wholesale stores in the next four to five years to expand its footprint in the country.
Later when the NDA government led by BJP, which opposed FDI in multi-brand retail, came into power in May, Wa-Mart India had stated it would “engage and work” with the new government and continue to focus on the cash and carry business in the country.
