Who’s on the move: Jan. 27, 2025

Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada announced Venessa Yates as its new president and CEO, pending authorizations.

“Venessa is a tremendous retail leader with experience in multiple countries and functions,” said Guilherme Loureiro, regional CEO, Walmart Canada, Chile, Mexico and Central America. “She is the right person to continue to drive Walmart Canada’s growth trajectory and its transformation to become the country’s leading omnichannel retailer.”

Yates has worked with Walmart since 2016.  Most recently, she served as the senior vice-president and general manager of Walmart+, the company’s membership program. With a wealth of retail experience, Yates has assumed various leadership positions at prominent retailers worldwide, such as Walmart, Woolworths and ALDI Stores.

Walmart Canada also announced Steve Schrobilgen is joining the company as chief operating officer, end-to-end, overseeing operations, supply chain, real estate and format, pending authorizations.

Schrobilgen currently serves as the senior vice-president, business unit leader for Walmart in the Western U.S., a role he assumed in 2023. Over his 35-year career with Sam’s Club and Walmart, Schrobilgen has demonstrated exceptional leadership and operational expertise. His commitment and results-driven approach propelled him through a series of increasingly senior roles at Sam’s.

Port of Quebec

The Port of Québec’s board of directors announced the appointment of Olga Farman as CEO, succeeding Mario Girard’s 14-year service in that position.

Farman was a corporate lawyer, until very recently, the managing partner of the Québec office of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada. She is also a member of the board of directors of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Beneva, insurance and financial services, and the Fondation du Musée de la civilisation de Québec. Farman is a member of the Québec Bar and holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and an MBA from Université Laval. She has received multiple awards and distinctions throughout her career.

Groupe Touchette

Canadian tire distributor Groupe Touchette announced the appointment of Aaron Ritter as associate vice-president, supply chain transformation.

With a career and recognized supply chain management and transformation expertise, Ritter brings a wealth of experience that aligns perfectly with Groupe Touchette’s strategic vision. His arrival marks a pivotal step in executing the transformation initiatives planned for the coming years.