Two top executives have departed the Gwinnett Stripers (Class AAA; International League), as vice president and general manager North Johnson and assistant general manager Shari Massengill have each resigned.
The Gwinnett franchise has undergone considerable change in the past year. The club was known as the Gwinnett Braves until a December 2017 rebrand to Stripers, and now it is preparing for a transition to new leadership.
Both Johnson and Massengill have resigned, which the Atlanta Braves–owner of the Stripers–confirmed in an email to Gwinnett season ticket holders on Monday. In that message, the Braves indicated that the organization will work over the coming weeks to find new leadership in Gwinnett. More from The Gwinnett Daily Post:
While the Braves’ organization had not made an official announcement to the general public or the media as of Monday evening, an email was sent out to Stripers season ticket holders Monday containing a statement from Atlanta executive vice president for minor league affiliates and strategic planning Chip Moore.
The statement reads in part, “As a valued member of our fan base, I wanted to share with you that after a review of the Gwinnett Stripers business, it was mutually agreed that the organization needed a new voice and vision, and both North Johnson and Shari Massengill have submitted their resignations.
“We are committed to our strategy to ensure the Stripers are a destination for a fun, value-driven entertainment option for all.”
“In the coming weeks we will identify new leadership who will innovate our business strategies and in return, enhance our game experience and strengthen our ties in the community.
The Stripers are coming off of a season in which they drew a per-game average of 3,062 fans, a number that was the lowest among the 30 Triple-A clubs between the International League and Pacific Coast League. Attendance figures have generally been an issue for the franchise since it relocated to Gwinnett County, GA from Richmond, VA prior to the 2009 season.
For the Stripers, the resignations of Johnson and Massengill mark the departure of two long-time executives. Johnson has been with Gwinnett since 2010, his first year after joining the team from the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High A; Carolina League). Massengill, meanwhile, had served in her position for the past eight seasons. Prior to joining Gwinnett, Massengill spent 13 seasons with the Kinston Indians (High A; Carolina League).