Eduardo Castro-Wright: putting a global spin on Wal-Mart

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, April-May, 2005 by Jorge Ferraez

Castro-Wright's reign brought with it a surge in Wal-Mart Mexico's business. According to the Mexican Agrifood News Report, during the first trimester of 2003 Wal-Mart Mexico's clients increased 10 percent, as compared to the first trimester of 2002. Castro-Wright says this increase is a result of their promotional campaign "Low Prices Everyday."

When asked what his first goal in his new post as executive vice president and chief operating officer will be, Castro-Wright replies: "I'm going to do what I've done here. Really, all the markets are similar in the fact that the Wal-Mart consumer is centrally involved in everything we do. So my first goal will be to better understand the American consumer. It is a market where I have not yet had a lot of experience. I've had the opportunity to work in numerous markets, but not yet the one in North America."

Castro-Wright may have his work cut out for him in understanding the marketing principles of a new market, but he admits that Wal-Mart core philosophy is not complex in nature. "Our consumer is in the center of everything we do," Castro-Wright says. "And we have a very clear vision of how, as a company, we have the responsibility of contributing to better the lives of our consumers in the many different lands where we operate. We give the consumer access to better prices and lower prices. We want consumers to be able to purchase more for their money."

Moving On, Moving North

As Castro-Wright makes the transition to his new position and new homeland, he takes with him years of experience, but his most treasured skill is that of zeroing in on talented people who can actively manage the company while also expanding the company to a new level of success. "The principle and most limiting factor for growth is finding talented and sufficient people to oversee the growth." He strongly believes that individuals are the ones who either propel a company forward or keep it in a state of mediocrity.

As a Latino executive, Castro-Wright is proud of Wal-Mart's hiring record. "The number of associates of Latino origin undoubtedly reflects the reality of the demographics of the United States." According to the online corporate news magazine Shack News, Castro-Wright's appointment to the top operations job marks the first time Wal-Mart has tapped its global repository of executives to fill a high-level domestic position. The news journal recently reported that "Historically, Wal-Mart's U.S. executives were the ones called upon to lend their expertise to international operations. That is true to a much lesser extent today as the flow of executives is no longer one-way and has actually begun to reverse, as the promotion of Castro-Wright illustrates."

When asked about his future at Wal-Mart and, in general, as a global executive, he replies that he sees himself returning to his origin and contributing to make the world a better place. "When we get to a certain age, we like to look hack and think that we have embarked in making a difference and have made a mark [on the world]. That mark reflects in people who are more satisfied and complete and who have access to a better life. As leaders, it is our responsibility to aid in some way to make other people's dream a reality."