Wal-Mart Names New VP of Grocery Division

A former executive from rival British retailers Safeway PLC and Tesco has been named by Wal-Mart as its executive vice president of grocery merchandise. Jack Sinclair, 57, will be in charge of planning, category management and general oversight of Wal-Mart's U.S. grocery business. He will report to executive vice president and chief merchandising officer John Fleming. He was group marketing and trading director at Safeway PLC, the British grocery chain, which is unrelated to North American Safeway Inc. He previously worked for British retailer Tesco Stores Ltd. which is launching a U.S.l effort also.