Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid Inc. has appointed former Wal-Mart and PepsiCo executive Juan Figuereo as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Mr. Figuereo, a 54-year-old Dominican Republic native, on Dec. 7 will succeed J. Patrick Robinson, who is retiring.

Newell Rubbermaid executives said that Mr. Figuereo's global management and mergers and acquisitions experience made him an attractive candidate.

"His strong track record as an agent of change accelerating complex businesses in Europe, Latin America and Asia makes him an ideal strategic partner in driving Newell Rubbermaid's global growth strategy," said Mark Ketchum, the company's president and CEO, in a news release.

Most recently, Mr. Figuereo was CFO for Cott Corp. Inc., a large Canadian soft drink provider.

Before that, he was vice president of mergers and acquisitions at Wal-Mart International, now the top foreign retailer in China. Mr. Figuereo also led the retail giant's expansions into five new Central American countries and helped solidify its business in Brazil.

Prior to Wal-Mart, Mr. Figuereo held a variety of regional roles at PepsiCo Inc.'s Frito-Lay unit, including stints in Barcelona, the Dominican Republic and London. He was also vice president and CFO of the Pepsi bottling company in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and held the same roles at Pepsi-Cola Latin America.

For more information, visit www.newellrubbermaid.com. 

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