Walmart Canada Announces Leadership Changes
Walmart Canada has announced a number of changes to its corporate leadership team that the company says will help accelerate growth.
Mohammed Abdool-Samad has joined Walmart Canada as chief financial officer, John Bayliss has been named chief administration officer, Michon Williams has been named chief technology officer and Joe Schrauder has accepted the role of VP of Operations & chief of staff to the CEO.
"We are a people-led, tech-powered business and these updates to our executive team help position us to improve how customers are able to shop with us," said Gonzalo Gebara, Walmart Canada’s president and CEO who took over in the role at the start of the year. "Our best-in-class Canadian leadership team is pushing our business forward on the path to modernize retail."
As chief financial officer. Abdool-Samad will lead the finance, strategic sourcing, audit, commercial finance and business performance management functions at Walmart Canada. Prior to this role, he was group chief financial officer at Walmart's Massmart business in South Africa, joining the company in 2019.
As chief administration officer, Bayliss will oversee Walmart Canada’s business strategy. Prior to this role, he served as the executive vice president, transformation officer and as the senior vice president of Supply Chain for Walmart Canada, where he helped the retailer “modernize” its business with automation, blockchain, fleet electrification and more.
In her new role as chief technology officer, Williams will lead the Internal Product Management and the Technology Infrastructure teams, ensuring the retailer’s business strategy is advanced through technology. She previously held the role of VP of Technology (Product and Delivery) at Walmart Canada.
Finally, as VP of Operations and chief of staff to the CEO, Shrauder will lead the Project Management Office and assume responsibility for the Central Operations and the Future Store Operating teams. A 20-year Walmart veteran, he is relocating to Canada from Bentonville, Ark. where he held the role of VP, International Operations & Realty, Walmart International.
Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day.