Wal-Mart looks to China for new US marketing chief

NEW YORK — Wal-Mart is turning to its marketing chief in China to shape how it relays its message to shoppers in the U.S.

The world’s largest retailer named Tony Rogers as chief marketing officer for the U.S. on Friday. He will report to Greg Foran, president and CEO of Wal-Mart’s U.S. division starting in mid-January. Tony, a 10-year veteran at the company, has been the head of marketing and social media in China for two years.

Rogers succeeds longtime marketing chief Stephen Quinn, who retires next month.

Wal-Mart has also hired former Target marketing executive Michael Francis as consultant. Francis is best known for his nearly 30-year career at Target, where he helped create the discounter’s cheap-chic image through whimsical advertising.

Before moving to China,Rogers worked for eight years in the Wal-Mart’s marketing division. Before joining Wal-Mart, Rogers spent several years with Pepsi-Co’s Frito-Lay division.

*CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated Tony Rogers’ last name. The error has been corrected.

Wal-Mart looks to China for new US marketing chief