ACE Hardware president and CEO Ray Griffith has announced his plans to retire from the hardware cooperative on March 31,2013,and the company's board of directors has named Ace's COO John Venhuizen his successor.Effective September 1,2012,Venhuizen assumed the role of president,while retaining his existing COO duties of Ace Hardware Corporation.
Griffith will maintain his role as chief executive until his retirement.When Griffith retires in 2013,he will have served as president,CEO or COO for more than eight years,having seen Ace through a period of dramatic change,growth and financial success.Venhuizen,42,brings a wealth of experience to the position with a career already spanning more than 20 years at Ace.Since joining the cooperative in 1992,Venhuizen has served as COO and as vice president of business development,retail development,retail training and international.He has led many of the major business units throughout the organization,including supply chain,category management and information technology.
