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The Giant Company hires Glennis Harris to lead customer experience

Ross Stores executive to succeed retiring Giant veteran John Ponnett

Russell Redman

March 12, 2021

3 Min Read
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A 30-year Giant veteran, John Ponnett is slated to retire from his post as senior vice president of retail operations on April 2.The Giant Company

Glennis Harris is joining The Giant Company as senior vice president of customer experience, succeeding John Ponnett, who is retiring.

Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant said Friday that Harris, currently regional vice president at off-price apparel and housewares retailer Ross Dress for Less, will start at the grocer on March 22. A 30-year Giant veteran, Ponnett is slated to retire from his post as senior vice president of retail operations on April 2.

In the newly created role of senior VP of customer experience, 20-year retail industry veteran Harris will oversee all Giant and Martin’s stores as well as the regional grocer’s Giant/Martin’s Direct e-commerce fulfillment centers as well as asset protection and safety, delivery operations, and store support, the company said. She will report directly to Nicholas Bertram, president of The Giant Company, part of Ahold Delhaize USA.

“My career began in grocery, so I’ve always had a special place in my heart for the industry. Joining The Giant Company is a homecoming of sorts, and I couldn’t be more excited,” Harris said in a statement. “I’ve been impressed with how The Giant Company is transforming the business and all that they have achieved over the last few years, and I am looking forward to working with Nick and the entire team to create an omnichannel experience unlike any other in the industry.”

Related:The Giant Company stays on growth path in Pennsylvania

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Harris (left) started her retail career in 1987 at Supervalu as a store director. Over the next decade, she held a range of positions of rising responsibility across operations, marketing and merchandising. She joined Ross Dress for Less parent company Ross Stores Inc. as district manager for the dd’s Discounts discount store chain in 2012 and then became zone director in 2014. Most recently, she served as regional VP for Ross in the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. markets, a position she has held since 2019.

“Glennis is more than a brilliant operator; she’s also unusually skilled at developing talent and creating an irresistible culture,” Bertram stated. “Her rapid advancement in the fashion industry was no surprise to me, having appreciated her growth mindset while in grocery. I’m delighted to welcome her to The Giant Company’s leadership team, and I am convinced that she will elevate the experience of our millions of customers no matter when, how or where they engage our brands.”

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Ponnett (left) has served as senior VP of retail operations at Giant since June 2015. Prior to that, he was VP of asset protection at Ahold USA and regional VP of operations for Giant Food Stores. He also served as vice president and lead of Giant’s acquisition of Genuardi’s Family Markets in 2021. Ponnett began his career at Giant as a store clerk and then was promoted to store manager in 1996, later rising up the ranks to district director in 2005 and then director of fresh sales and merchandising in 2010. 

Related:H-E-B taps Swisslog to deploy micro-fulfillment centers

“On behalf of the entire Giant Company team, I thank John for his dedication and many significant contributions to our company over his 30-year career, most notably the leadership he displayed last year during one of the most challenging times in company history,” Bertram added. “From his beginning as a part-time clerk at our original Middletown, Pa., store to his current role, John’s tremendous influence on our business will not be forgotten, and his legacy will live on in the many team members he’s mentored over the years.”

Read more about:

Ahold Delhaize USA

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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