Wal-Mart gets new heads of U.S. operations and HR

In an effort to re-ignite sales growth in the U.S., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) continues to make management changes to mix up the party. The retailer's latest move is to create two new executive positions for its operations and human resources departments in the U.S.. I guess this comes as no surprise as U.S. sales in 2006 grew at the slowest pace in almost three decades. Bill Simon will become U.S. chief operating officer, and Pat Curran will become the executive vice president for human resources.

Wal-Mart still receives 80% of its revenue from its home market of the U.S., where sales increased last year at a much slower pace but than in many previous years. A large combination of pad publicity, corporate scandals, enhanced competition and a floundering image have all hurt Wal-Mart in the last 12 months, but the company seems determined to turn that all around. So far, efforts are having a middling effect -- but anything in Wal-Mart land takes a long time.

Bill Simon previously led Wal-Mart's pharmacy division (highlighted by the introduction of $4 prescription drugs last year) and Pat Curran was most recently senior vice president of operations on the U.S. East Coast. As head of HR, Curran will most likely face the brunt of pressure from labor groups and watchdog groups that constantly pick at Wal-Mart's "poor wages" and substandard benefits.