Ace Hardware Corporation, the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry, has appointed John Venhuizen chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, 2012.

Venhuizen has spent nearly two decades with Ace and most recently served as executive vice president of supply chain, information technology (IT) and international. In this position, he was instrumental both in significantly growing the number of Ace stores around the world and in creating a variety of successful support and incentive programs for retailers said the company.

Venhuizen joined Ace in 1992 and has served in a variety of regional and corporate-based marketing, merchandising, advertising and business development positions.