John Anderson marks 50 years of leadership at Oppy

John Anderson, chair, CEO and managing partner of Oppy, will celebrate 50 years at the company on March 15. What began as a temporary warehouse job in 1975 has evolved into a transformative career, helping guide the organization from a $7 million business to a global powerhouse with $1.5 billion in revenue and 19 locations worldwide.

Born and raised in North Vancouver, Anderson's journey to CEO was rooted in a strong work ethic and determination. He delivered newspapers at age 9, worked multiple jobs throughout high school and earned his commercial pilot’s license before his driver’s license.

At 18, Anderson joined Oppy as a warehouse worker, shoveling ice and hauling sacks of potatoes. He quickly rose through the ranks, with then-CEO and descendant of the Oppenheimer founding brothers David Oppenheimer recognizing his potential. Anderson played a key role in expanding Oppy into international markets, including Chile and New Zealand, while building a reputation for operational excellence and customer service.

“John’s leadership has been transformative for Oppy,” said David Smith, president and COO. “Under his guidance, the company has grown from a small regional operation into a global leader in the produce industry. His ability to build meaningful relationships with growers, partners and employees has been key to Oppy’s success.”

It was clear Anderson’s vision extended beyond day-to-day operations. He introduced Oppy’s proprietary system that supports virtually every aspect of its supply chain, Optimo, led the creation of David Oppenheimer Transport, now known as Oppy Transport, diversified Oppy’s portfolio into categories, ensuring year-round availability of popular produce via multiple countries of origin, and so much more. In 2004, Oppy launched the expect the world from us promise, a commitment to quality and service that Anderson inspired and remains a core part of the company’s identity today.