Eduardo Solórzano Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has this week introduced its new head of Latin American operations, Eduardo Solórzano, who has been handed the role of regional president and CEO at Walmart Latinoamérica.

The announcement coincided with the launch of the group's new headquarters for its Latin American operations, located in south Florida, US.

'We're very enthused about having our new Latin American regional offices here in Miami, which some describe as a gateway to Latin America,' said Mr Solórzano. 'The opening of this new regional office reflects a renewed level of service and support Walmart Latinoamérica is ready to provide, to our markets, to our associates, to our stores and to the people in countries throughout Latin America, whether we have stores in those countries yet or not.'

Mr Solórzano said that the new office would ensure that the markets it served – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua – were well supported and would be aided in their bids to become customers' first choice in retailing.

Meanwhile, Walmart Canada has revealed that it will open 35-40 supercentres in 2010, with the project including new stores, relocations, expansions and store remodelling, representing a combined investment of some C$500m.

'The combination of one-stop shopping and low prices that our supercentres provide has been embraced by our customers,' said Walmart Canada president and CEO David Cheesewright. 'We look forward to bringing this popular format to a new range of shoppers.'