WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — Tops Markets announced it has appointed John Persons as president and COO, a move it says is part of a “long-term leadership strategy.”
Current CEO Frank Curci will remain in that role and continue serving as chairman of the supermarket company’s board of directors, Tops said in a news release issued Tuesday afternoon.
“John’s appointment is the first step in an organized and planned effort to ensure we have consistent and experienced leadership to guide the future growth and success of Tops Friendly Markets,” Curci said. “Over the past eight years, John has played a significant role in building our organization and is committed to ensuring that Tops is providing the best value possible for our many customers.”
Tops Markets, which is headquartered in the Buffalo suburb of Williamsville, operates 28 grocery stores within a 40-mile radius of Syracuse, according to its website store-locator feature.
In his role as president and COO, Persons will oversee all store operations in Tops’ three-state, geographic footprint and all sales, marketing, and merchandising operations.
“I look forward as president and COO to working with all members of the Tops family, [including] associates, vendors and suppliers, as we strive to provide Tops’ customers with what they want, when they want it, and [to] save them time and money,” Persons said in the news release. “I also thank Frank Curci and the Tops board of directors for the confidence they have placed in me as we continue to build a stronger Tops in the communities we serve.”
Persons has been with Tops for more than 30 years, most recently serving as executive VP of sales, marketing, and merchandising.
Before that, he was senior VP of retail operations from 2007 to 2014 and VP of retail operations from 2000 to 2007.
Persons has served on the company’s board of directors since 2013, having been part of the management team that bought Tops from its previous owner, Morgan Stanley Private Equity, in December 2013.
Curci has served as president, CEO, and board member since December 2007 when Morgan Stanley Private Equity acquired Tops Friendly Markets from Koninklijke Ahold, N.V.
He became board chairman after the 2013 management buyout, which returned Tops to local ownership.
Under Curci’s leadership, Tops has more than doubled the number of stores to 165 full-service supermarkets; expanded its geographic reach into eastern and northern New York, Vermont, and northern Pennsylvania; and invested more than $200 million in store renovations and updates, according to the news release.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
