Walmart Exec Moves Include New CEO at Massmart in South Africa

Walmart Inc. of Bentonville saw some executive changes this week, including a new CEO at its South African retail chain, Massmart.

Massmart’s board of directors announced Thursday that Mitchell Slape will take over as CEO and executive director of the company. He’ll succeed Guy Hayward, who is resigning.

Mitchell has been with Walmart since 1995, helping lead the company’s retail efforts at various times in the U.S., Japan, India and Mexico. His previous roles include chief operating officer at Seiyu (Walmart Japan) and Bharti Retail Ltd. (India). He’s also filled vice president roles at Walmart de Mexico and Walmart International.

On Thursday, Massmart, which owns the Game and Makro chains, reported “weak and variable sales trends” in recent months and said earnings “may be at least 50% lower” than a year before. 

Mitchell will take over at Massmart once he’s approved to work in South Africa.

“Mitchell’s well established Walmart network and extensive retail experience uniquely positions him to leverage the relevant resources needed to elevate Massmart’s operating performance,” the company said.

Also this week, Walmart hired a former Justice Department prosecutor, David Searle, as its international ethics and compliance officer. Searle was an assistant U.S. attorney.

“I look forward to working with Walmart’s talented team and to helping build on the company’s leading global ethics and compliance program,” Searle said.

Another Walmart executive left the company.

Transportation management and logistics firm Transplace of Dallas, formerly owned in part by J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. of Lowell, said it hired Tracy Rosser as its executive vice president of operations. 

The company said Rosser will provide strategic leadership and direction for the its Transportation Management business unit. He will be based out of the company’s Lowell office and report directly to CEO Frank McGuigan.