BRITISH COLUMBIA - Today, we at ANUK honor a tenured career that has been advancing our industry for almost 30 years. Oppy recently revealed that Doug Grant, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has announced his upcoming retirement on July 31, following nearly three decades of leadership under the fresh produce purveyor.

Grant first joined Oppy’s leadership ring as Director of Information Technology, where he made an immediate impact by guiding the company’s digital transformation. Grant made his mark by exploring innovative ideas throughout his tenured career, according to a press release, and was promoted to his current role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2019. In this role, he oversaw operations, quality control, manufacturing, transportation, supply chain management, grower relations, government regulations, sustainability, and Oppy’s South American offices.

Further demonstrating his expertise in the sector, Grant has authored numerous white papers covering e-commerce, traceability, and GS1 Databar, as well as articles for The Center for Produce Safety, where he serves on the executive committee. Since 2003, Grant has participated on 15 industry committees, beginning with PMA’s EDI/e-commerce committee, which he chaired through the process of developing the industry’s first standard Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) documents, the release noted.

“Doug is one of the most influential people to have walked through Oppy’s doors. The world-class technology system that we have today is because of him and his team,” said Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Partner John Anderson. “Beyond Oppy, Doug has been a dedicated leader in the industry, contributing his expertise on critical subjects in produce. On behalf of Jo-Anne and I, and everyone at Oppy, we thank Doug for all he has done and wish him and Sherry a long, happy, and healthy retirement.”

Grant has also made significant pushes on the sustainability front during his career, as he recently spearheaded a unique adopt-a-highway program in Peru which removes waste pileups beside major highways by engaging with citizens, local partners, and authorities; this initiative will serve as a blueprint for similar models in the future, continuing his lasting impact.

Grant also received the Canadian Marketing Association’s Produce Man of the Year award in 2003, and last year was named as one of the industry’s 35 Vanguard leaders by Produce Business.

“His contribution to industry efficiencies, which are the backbone of the fresh produce supply chain, will be a lasting legacy of Doug’s career,” said Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Vice President of Policy and Issue Management Jane Proctor. “His calm demeanor and expertise helped move along files when it seemed a solution was almost impossible. He will be greatly missed around industry tables.”

As Grant steps down from his role, Steve Roosdahl, Vice President of Operations, will take on Grant’s top-line responsibilities within Oppy’s operations, transportation, and supply chain. Vice President of South American Operations Eric Coty has now taken over the region completely, and IT is reporting directly to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kiran Rao.

Congratulations to Doug Grant on a successful career and his recent retirement! AndNowUKnow will continue to keep our eye out for the next play from the many movers and shakers of our industry, so keep reading.

Oppy