Walmart India COO Devendra Chawla announces departure

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Dec 10, 2018

The COO of Walmart India, Devendra Chawla, has decided to put in his papers after working for the business for 15 months. Sameer Aggarwal is expected to replace him.

Devendra Chawla has handed in his notice and will be leaving his post as COO of Walmart India, two senior industry executives told ET Bureau. Chawla’s decision to leave was circulated internally in the business on December 7, according to the sources, and he is now serving his notice period.

Chawla, a Harvard Business School alumnus, held the position of COO and executive vice president at Walmart India and was responsible for marketing, merchandising, procurement, and omni-channel operations at the business. Chawla was also on Walmart India’s board of directors, according to the Registrar of Companies.

Sameer Aggarwal is expected to replace Chawla, according to ET Bureau’s sources. Aggarwal is currently the executive vice president, chief of strategy, and administrative officer at Walmart India. Aggarwal has an MBA from the London Business School and joined Walmart India in April this year.

Walmart currently operates 23 “Best Modern Price Wholesale” stores in India as well as two fulfilment centres. Over the coming four to five years, Walmart aims to open 50 more retail outlets. Walmart also recently acquired a 77 percent stake in Flipkart and is now the parent company of the Indian-founded e-commerce platform.