Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) announced today that Sylvain Prud’homme will join the company as president of Lowe’s Canada, effective March 25. He replaces Alan D. Huggins, who is returning to the United States as Lowe’s vice president of international operations. Prud’homme will report to William D. (Doug) Robinson, head of international operations and development.

“Sylvain brings to Lowe’s deep experience in national and international retail operations and merchandising across Canada,” Robinson explained. “He is a strategic thinker and a humble leader, and will be an outstanding addition to the leadership team in Canada.”

Prud’homme comes to Lowe’s from Loblaw Company, where he served in executive vice president roles in operations and merchandising, following a retail career at some of Canada’s most respected retailers, including Sobey’s West, Wal-Mart Canada and Super C. He earned an M.B.A. from the University of Montreal H.E.C.

Huggins was vice president of operations when Lowe’s opened its first stores in Canada in 2007 and served as the division’s president since 2009. In his new role, Huggins will be responsible for development of Lowe’s international operations and the coordination across Lowe’s international businesses.

“Alan has been critical to Lowe’s Canada operations from the very beginning,” said Robinson. “His leadership has helped Lowe’s grow from an idea in 2006 to 34 stores and one distribution center in Canada today. Alan will continue to work with Sylvain and the rest of the leadership team in Canada as he coordinates operations across Lowe’s international businesses.”

With fiscal year 2011 sales of $50.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 100 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,745 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.