DUXBURY, Mass. -- Leo Vercollone will assume the role of CEO at convenience-store retailer VERC Enterprises, which has promoted COO Jim Fitzgerald to president, a role Vercollone previously held. Fitzgerald is the first non-family member to hold that position in the history of the more than 40-year-old, second-generation family business.
In this role, Fitzgerald, who has been with VERC for 22 years, will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company while also working directly with owners Leo and Paul Vercollone on planning and implementing the company’s growth. He will lead the management team, which will include Paul Vercollone, senior vice president, and Barry Ahearn, who was recently promoted to vice president of operations.
Leo Vercollone, who said that his role will transition more to “big-picture” growth initiatives and strategy, said, “I see big and impressive things ahead for us. This is the perfect time to be certain we have the strongest management team possible in place to guide us through this next phase of growth.
“Jim is absolutely the right choice for this role,” he continued. “Jim is that steady hand that has guided us through a period of tremendous growth, as we have expanded into new communities and even into a neighboring state. Jim has been a major influence in our company’s development, continually showing the ability to direct many facets of our organization and help us get to the next level.”
Fitzgerald joined VERC in 1995 as director of finance; in 2000, the company promoted him to CFO, and in 2011 named him vice president and COO.
Prior to his affiliation with VERC Enterprises, Fitzgerald spent 12 years as a senior manager at CPA firm Needel, Welch & Stone, Rockland, Mass. Before that, he was CPA and manager Vitale, Caturano and Co., Boston. He has also been active in c-store industry organizations, including serving on the legislative committee of the New England Convenience Stores Association.
Duxbury, Mass.-based VERC Enterprises is a regional independent chain of 20 convenience stores and gas stations with locations throughout eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The company began more than 40 years ago, with a single car wash in Marshfield, Mass., in a business founded by Eugene Vercollone. The company now has more than 300 employees and is a leader in hiring those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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