Walmart Canada Taps COO to Head Company
Walmart Canada says it will have a new CEO on Aug. 15, when Lee Tappenden is promoted to the role.
Tappenden joined Walmart Canada in 2010 and has held several senior positions since then. He’s currently chief operations officer, a position that’s often seen as a prelude to becoming CEO.
He will succeed Dirk Van den Berghe, who was appointed to the position in August 2014.
Prior to joining Walmart’s Canadian subsidiary, Tappenden held a number of global leadership roles including chief merchandising officer with Walmart Japan and vice-president of merchandising for the company’s international division.
As head of Walmart Canada, Tappenden will report to the president and CEO of Walmart International, David Cheesewright.
Bob Hakeem, Walmart Canada’s chief administrative officer, will become its chief operations officer.
