Exhibit 99.1
News
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.
2 Paragon Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645
Investor contact: William J. Moss
Vice President, Treasurer
(201) 571-4019
Press contact: Richard P. De Santa
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
(201) 571-4495
A&P Announces New Senior Management Team
MONTVALE, NJ - September 6, 2005 - The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company,
Inc. (A&P)(NYSE:GAP) today announced the following senior executive
appointments, reporting to Eric Claus, President & Chief Executive Officer.
o John Metzger has been appointed to the new position of Executive Vice
President. Since joining A&P in 1999, Mr. Metzger has directed A&P's Supply
& Logistics and Information Technology functions, and directed the
completion of the company's enterprise-wide systems infrastructure
initiative. In addition to directing those functions, he now assumes
responsibility for Real Estate, Design and Construction, and will assist
Mr. Claus in the general administrative management of the company.
o Brenda Galgano will become Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.
Ms. Galgano joined A&P in 1999 as Director of Corporate Accounting, and
later served as Assistant Corporate Controller. She was named Corporate
Controller in 2002, and became Senior Vice President in 2004. As CFO, she
will succeed Mitchell P. Goldstein, who will leave the Company after a
transition period.
Commenting on the change, Mr. Claus said "Over the past six years, Mitch
Goldstein has been a pivotal driver of the financial and strategic
initiatives that have secured our company, and provided the strong
financial platform underpinning our future development. We appreciate his
working with us through the transition of duties, and wish him the best of
luck in his future pursuits. Brenda Galgano's financial expertise and
leadership skills are well known both inside and outside the company, and
she will have my full confidence in assuming this critical responsibility
for A&P."
o Allan Richards has been appointed Senior Vice President of Human Resources,
Labor Relations and Legal Services. Mr. Richards joined A&P in 2004 as
Senior Vice President of Labor Relations, and later assumed direction of
the company's Human Resources department, directing the integration of both
functions to support both union and non-union employees. An experienced
labor relations and employment law executive, he now adds direction of
Legal Services to those responsibilities.
o Stephen Slade has been appointed Senior Vice President of
Merchandising. Mr. Slade joined A&P in 2004 as head of the A&P
operations in New York and New Jersey, and later assumed direction of
all company fresh store operations. Mr. Slade brought to A&P an
extensive and successful track record in food and mass merchandising,
at such major companies as Food Lion, Ingles Markets, Bruno's and
Kmart. In assuming the merchandising role, he succeeds Bob Panasuk,
who has left the company. Said Mr. Claus, "We thank Bob for his
contribution to A&P in the U.S. and Canada over the past 10 years, and
wish him the best in his future endeavors."
o Paul Wiseman has been appointed Senior Vice President of Operations,
effective September 12, succeeding Mr. Slade in that role. Mr. Wiseman
joined A&P Canada in 2004 as Senior Vice President of Discount Operations,
where he led the reorganization and turnaround of the Canadian Food Basics
chain. He was previously with Co-Op Atlantic, a successful food and general
merchandise operator based in New Brunswick, Canada, where he was most
recently Vice President of Retail Operations.
"This is a talented and dedicated team that is focused on improving our
company's results," said Mr. Claus. "I look forward to working with them to
align the organization to the current scope and needs of our business, and
implement a pragmatic business plan that will expedite A&P's return to
profitability."
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