Levi Strauss Taps Wal-Mart Exec to Head Ecommerce

Levi Strauss & Co. said Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s (NYSE:WMT) Marc Rosen will join the jeans maker next month as executive vice president and president of global e-commerce as the company looks improve its online operation.

Mr. Rosen--who most recently worked as senior vice president of global e-commerce at Wal-Mart, where he was responsible for designing, building, operating and expanding Walmart.com globally--will be tasked with leading Levi's global e-commerce business to drive new growth, consumer loyalty and sustainable profitability, Levi said.

In addition to working on Levi.com and Dockers.com, Mr. Rosen will focus on the company's highest-growth markets, including China, France, Germany, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S., the company said.

Mr. Rosen has also previously worked as Wal-Mart's senior vice president of information systems, responsible for the retailer's global merchandising, supply chain and store systems, and has held senior leadership positions for Wal-Mart's international business unit and Ernst & Young.

A relative bright spot in a tough retail environment, e-commerce has been one of the biggest drivers of retail sales in recent quarters. Companies across the retail industry have been making investments in websites and searching for new ways to reach shoppers through social media.

"Our e-commerce business has experienced strong, double-digit growth the past few years," said Chief Executive Chip Bergh on Monday, adding that investing in e-commerce continues to be a top priority for Levi.

However, earlier this month, Levi said its fiscal first-quarter profit slid 53% as the company posted restructuring-related charges and revenue edged lower.

Those results came about two weeks after the company outlined a plan to cut 800 jobs as part of a cost-savings plan to help boost its profitability. While Levi's sales and net income grew for the company's latest fiscal year, both metrics declined in the final quarter, hurt by higher promotions.