Yet another longtime Market Basket executive has been termintated, the latest in a string of removals the supermarket chain’s Board of Directors has taken against employees who have exhibited loyalty to Arthur T. Demoulas.

After thirty years with the company, Sue Dufresne received an emailed letter informing her of the decision. Dufresne has been a key executive on the Market Basket finance team, overseeing the company’s investment portfolio and reporting its performance to the Board. She also oversaw and managed two Demoulas family foundations and administered several family trusts.

The letter (published in its entirety below) is signed by Director Steven J. Collins and states Dufresne’s “actions and conduct have diverged from the best  interests of Market Basket.” 

“Among other things, you have regularly disclosed confidential company information to the press and persisted in making public statements that were not authorized or in Market Basket’s interests and/or that, in our view, you were aware were not accurate,” Collins writes.

The letter goes on to state “we are aware that your dedication to Mr. Demoulas may have driven you to take these actions. But this was not the correct way to voice your opinions.”

Dufresne, who regularly interacts with many charities and non-profits supported by the Demoulas family foundations and also serves on the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, stands by her media statements.

“My termination from Market Basket is the continuation of the unjustifiable leadership destruction implemented by the current Board 4 months ago,” Dufresne responded. “Last Tuesday I joined a distinguished line of hard-working, dedicated and knowledgeable individuals who significantly contributed to the success and growth of this outstanding company that were also fired. My actions since May 28 have been out of dedication and loyalty to the Company and all its people, including the high standards, values and ethics of the late Mr. Telemachus Demoulas and Mr. Arthur T. Demoulas.  I stood up for the truth because the entire Market Basket community deserves nothing less. Market Basket is a great company that has proven decade after decade that well-run companies can be rewarding for all stakeholders and still deliver outstanding cash flow to the owners.  Its business model and executive management team should have been supported and embraced, not rejected. I fear most for the future of the people of Market Basket, its Associates and Customers.”

With Dufresne’s firing, seven of the company’s top eight executives have been removed, despite the Board trying to assure the public that business goesj her firing, the Board has now removed seven of the top eight executives of the company, despite Chairman of the Board Jay Hachigian trying to assure the public and loyal Market Basket customers that “nothing will change” at the time of Demoulas’ removal as CEO in late May.

“For the past 30 years, Susan Dufresne has been instrumental in the success of the Market Basket organization,” Demoulas said today in a statement. “As a person, Sue is respected and admired for her professionalism, trustworthiness and financial expertise. As a longtime Executive, she has played a key role in ensuring the financial health of the company and its Profit-Sharing Plan. She has been responsible for stewarding the strong and steady results of the Profit-Sharing Plan that has benefited thousands of Market Basket Associates. The board’s decision is deeply misguided as they have now terminated a most talented and dignified woman who has always advanced the Market Basket philosophy and culture in all her endeavors.”

Dufresne’s ousting is just the latest development in the saga which began with Arthur T. being placed on paid leave on May 28. Last week, Demoulas responded to the Board of Directors suit against him, filed in early September, while also countersuing the Board and revealing internal strife within the family for years.