Ace realigns retail operations team

Ace Hardware has announced that Kane Calamari -- an Ace employee from 1990-1998 -- has rejoined the company as vp-retail operations. At the same time, Ken Nichols, who had been serving in that role, was promoted to senior vp-retail operations. Both Calamari and Nichols are based at Ace’s Oak Brook, Ill., headquarters.

In his new role, Calamari, 41, oversees the field operations team consisting of regional and district managers; the field new business team of market development managers; the paint field team and the Oak Brook-based operations administration staff.

Before rejoining Ace, Calamari was senior vp-sales for North America at Robert Bosch Tool. While at Ace, he held various positions, including retail marketing manager. Nichols, 59, originally joined Ace in 1978 and was named vp-retail operations in 2000.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Kane back to Ace and to promote Ken," said Ace president and CEO Ray Griffith. "This new alignment of our retail operations team will further help us support our stores and continue to drive success at retail."