Wal-Mart-Germany's Management Shuffle

WUPPERTAL, Germany (4 May 2000)--The US retail giant Wal-Mart has shuffled the entire top management at its Germany subsidiary Wal-Mart Germany. The US headquarters called back Ron Tiarks, general manager of Wal-Mart Germany for the last two years, as well as several other US managers. Allan Leighton, general manager of the Wal-Mart's UK subsidiary Asda, is now also managing director of the German subsidiary. In fact, virtually the entire management now comprises managers from its English subsidiary Asda, Wal-Mart USA calls the shuffle normal procedure, but industry observers note that Wal-Mart Germany has been anything but a success story. According to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, integrating the Wertkauf Group (acquired two years ago) with the 74 Interspar outlets (acquired at the end of 1998) hasn't run to expectations. Wal-Mart-Germany recently began a price offensive on the (German) market in non-foods in order to win over new customers. Besides Leighton, Asda Group's financial manager is now in charge of Wal-Mart Germany's financing and controlling. Asda Group's Ian McLeod is responsible for sales and marketing. Volker Barth, responsible for sales in Wuppertal, has now taken over logistics, administration and outlet development. Torsten Alfes, responsible for employment, is now also responsible for PR, organization, etc. (JB)