Ace CEO Griffith to Retire March 31, 2013, Venhuizen Named Successor

[Tuesday, September 04, 2012]  Ace Hardware President and Chief Executive Officer 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 Chief Operating Officer John Venhuizen his successor.

Effective September 1, 2012, Venhuizen assumed the role of President, while retaining his existing Chief Operating Officer duties of Ace Hardware Corporation. Griffith will maintain his role as Chief Executive Officer 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. Ace’s Board of Directors and Griffith have developed this succession plan over the past three years, and Venhuizen is their clear choice.

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 Chief Operating Officer 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. Read More ...