(Yicai) April 28 -- Metro has appointed Andrew Miles, former president of Sam's Club China, as executive chairman of the German membership-only retailer's Chinese arm.

Miles, who also previously served as chief operating officer of Sam's Club China and deputy chief executive for the country at the US retailer's parent firm Walmart, will step into his new role effective immediately, Metro China announced yesterday. He will focus on driving strategic transformation and building long-term value, it added.

Metro China appointed Miles as a company advisor in early February, the company noted at the time that his future involvement would likely drive the continuous enhancement of product competitiveness and long-term customer value.

Miles joined Walmart China in 2012, before retiring in January 2025. He is recognized in the industry as one of the key figures responsible for driving the rapid growth of Sam's Club in the country.

When Miles joined Walmart, there were only six Sam's Club locations in China, which were underperforming, industry insiders told Yicai. However, the various reform measures he implemented led to rapid growth in the firm's market size, with its membership stores standing out amid significant pressure on other brick-and-mortar retail formats, achieving commendable sales, they noted.

Metro's decision to bring Miles a year after his retirement is a signal that the Düsseldorf-based company plans to ramp up its focus on the consumer business in the Chinese market, the insiders pointed out, noting that the move suggests that competition in China's membership store market may further intensify.

Metro is a membership-based retailer with around 100 locations in the Chinese market. However, unlike Sam's Club, which leans towards consumer retail, it primarily targets business-to-business customers, so there are notable differences between the two companies in product specifications, pricing, and customer positioning.

However, the customer base of Metro China has been undergoing changes, with product development and packaging being adjusted to better cater to consumer needs. Compared to several years ago, when B2B revenue dominated, the share of customer-to-customer income has significantly increased.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev