Wal-Mart makes top management change at Asda

Wal-Mart’s grocery chain in the United Kingdom — Asda — announced a change in top management which will be effective at the end of the year. CEO Sean Clarke will step down and be replaced by Roger Burnley, who is presently chief operating officer for the retailer.

Clarke took over as CEO about 15 months ago and has logged more than two decades with Wal-Mart, where he has worked in five international markets, including CEO of Walmart China before transferring to Asda.

David Cheesewright, CEO of Walmart International, credits Clarke with a strong ability to lead what has been a critical transformation over the past 15 months. Clarke worked to reverse negative same-store comp sales and try and regain lost market share to deep discounter Lidl and Aldi that have sent priced down, eroding margin over the past two years. In the past quarter Asda managed to have positive comps for the first time in several quarters.

Cheesewright said recently Asda is performing better than it has in a long time. He said Clarke will remain engaged with Wal-Mart after stepping down from Asda leadership on Dec. 31. He said Clarke will also work with Burnley to ensure a smooth transition through the retailer’s crucial holiday season.

Brumley has been running Asda’s day-to-day operations for the past year and Cheesewright previously described him as “a future CEO.”  Burnley is a retail veteran having held a number of retail management , buying and logistics jobs before joining Asda. He previously worked for Matalan and Sainsbury’s.