MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – Walmart Canada appointed Horacio “Haio” Barbeito president and CEO of the business effective in October. He succeeds Lee Tappenden, who will be leaving the company at the end of the year.

Barbeito joined Walmart nearly 25 years ago as a trainee buyer and later advanced through the ranks via roles that included replenishment in Argentina and the US, supply chain and store operations in Puerto Rico, and many other leadership positions. In 2012 he was named CEO of Walmart Argentina and later became CEO of Walmart Argentina and Chile in 2015.

“I’m very excited by the opportunity to lead the Walmart Canada team," Barbeito said. “We will continue to work to drive the growth and innovation our Canadian customers expect.”

Dirk Van den Berghe, executive vice president, Walmart and Regional CEO, Asia and Canada, said the Walmart Canada team will benefit from Barbeito’s breadth of experience and engaging approach.

“During his time in Argentina and Chile,” Van den Berghe noted, “Haio has led the business to consistently deliver strong performance while at the same time focusing on people through digital talent acquisition, talent development, and diversity and inclusion — resulting in increased engagement across the business.”

Tappenden, who spent 23 years working at Walmart, will work with Barbeito through October before joining the International Support Team focusing on global sourcing and supplier leverage. Tappenden will officially leave the company Jan. 31, 2020.

“Lee is a servant leader with a strong connection to associates, customers and our communities,” Van den Berghe said. “He drove improvements in both associate engagement scores and customer satisfaction metrics. Lee’s passion for elevating charitable causes, such as Children’s Miracle Network and Walmart’s Fight Hunger, Spark Change campaigns, and his energy will be missed.”