PATHMARK REALIGNS OPERATIONS UNIT IN MOVE TOWARD DECENTRALIZATION

WOODBRIDGE, N.J. -- In an effort to decentralize management, Pathmark Stores here has reorganized its store operations group. Instead of two operating divisions, the company has created five marketing areas to serve approximately 30 stores each in New York City and Connecticut, Long Island, northern New Jersey, central New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area. According to a chain spokesman, the changes are designed to allow Pathmark to get closer to customers, manage its marketing areas more closely, spread best practices to more stores and allow for better growth and development of the operations group. Rich Kenny, who formerly headed Pathmark's Northern division in Huntington Station, Long Island, becomes vice president of the new central New Jersey region, and Bob Paton, formerly head of Pathmark's Southern division office in Mount Laurel, N.J., becomes vice president of retail security, a new position. The operations vice presidents for Pathmark's other four marketing regions are Tony Martori, New York City and Connecticut; Beth Diez, Long Island; Frank Teresa, northern New Jersey, and Grant McLoughlin, Greater Philadelphia. The company declined to pinpoint the executives' former titles. All five regional vice presidents and Paton report to Bob Joyce, executive vice president of store operations. While many of the employees at each of the original two operating division offices have been reassigned to positions at headquarters, store level or in the new marketing areas, approximately 12 people from each of the two offices might be displaced if they are unwilling to accept jobs at store level, the chain spokesman told SN.