Overseeing 9,000 Associates

Ezequiel Gómez Berard,
President and CEO,
Wal-Mart Argentina

As a young child growing up in Argentina, Ezequiel Gómez Berard dreamed of someday becoming an entrepreneur or leading his own business. Today, he is the President and CEO of Wal-Mart Argentina, overseeing 28 retail units and nearly 9,000 associates.

Ezequiel started with the Company in 1995. He was already working in the retail industry in Argentina when he learned that Wal-Mart would be entering the country. He soon applied for a job as a buyer with Wal-Mart Argentina and got it.

"I was very excited to become a part of the number-one company in the world," Ezequiel says. "It was a really big challenge for me and I had high expectations."

Fourteen years later, Ezequiel has certainly made the most of this challenge, excelling in a number of positions in merchandising, food, logistics and real estate before being promoted to his current role. He says that each position gave him the opportunity to learn something new and to work with different people — all preparing him to become Wal-Mart Argentina's President and CEO.

"Wal-Mart gives its associates so many opportunities to develop their professional careers and to understand how important and exciting the retail industry can be in our customers' lives."

And this impact on customers' lives is what Ezequiel challenges his team to think about each day. He's asked associates in all areas of the Company to put sustainability at the top of the agenda, and to find ways to drive the business and to make a meaningful difference in people's lives at the same time.

"We have a responsibility to our planet to fulfill our mission of helping people live better. But we can't do it on a sick planet. A healthy environment is the key to helping people live good lives, and as part of Wal-Mart, we can make a positive difference here in our country and beyond."