LOUISVILLE, Ky. — BP has named Debi Boffa, vice president of convenience for the Americas, to lead the Thorntons convenience-store network following the departure of President and CEO Simon Richards, CSP Daily News has learned.
“With more than 24 years in BP’s retail business, Debi keeps the guest at the heart of every decision and will be an incredible custodian of the Thorntons’ culture and brand,” said Greg Franks, BP’s senior vice president of mobility and convenience for the U.S. and Mexico markets. “Both she and I—and everyone at BP—are committed to partnering with the Thorntons team to deliver the same great experience that Thorntons’ guests value and expect. To that end, BP does not plan to rebrand the Thorntons stores.”
Before assuming her current role in January, Boffa was managing director for BP New Zealand, among other positions, and in managerial roles at BP Australia.
A new joint venture between London-based BP and ArcLight Capital Partners closed on the acquisition of Louisville, Ky.-based Thorntons Inc. in February 2019. The joint venture appointed Richards, head of regional development for Fuels North America for BP Products North America, as the new president and CEO of Thorntons LLC. Richards left the company on the heels of the convenience-store chain being fully acquired by BP. The company did not disclose the financial details of the transaction.
Richards has accepted a position to help run Andover, Mass.-based Xpress Natural Gas.
- Thorntons is No. 38 in CSP’s 2021 Top 202 ranking of c-stores by store count. BP America is No. 8.
Founded in 1971, Louisville, Ky.-based Thorntons operates more than 200 c-stores in six states: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Florida.
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