BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart said it has hired Delhaize Group executive Dirk Van den Berghe to lead its Canadian operations. He will officially become chief executive officer of Walmart Canada on August 1.

Van den Berghe has 30 years of international business experience, most recently as CEO of food retailer Delhaize’s operations in Luxembourg and its home country of Belgium.

He succeeds Shelley Broader, who last month was promoted to executive vice president, president and CEO of Walmart EMEA, giving her oversight for the retailer’s operations in Europe, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Van den Berghe will report to Broader.

"We’re very pleased Dirk will be leading Walmart Canada as we celebrate 20 amazing years of saving Canadians money so they can live better," Broader said in a statement. "Under Dirk’s leadership, Delhaize has been successful in several countries, and his vast experience will allow us to strengthen our growing food business in Canada and complements our highly successful general merchandise operation. One of Walmart’s greatest strengths is having exceptional leaders to drive our continued growth, and Dirk is a prime example of this talent."

Van den Berghe has a doctorate in economics from Sofia University in Bulgaria.