Sunoco Moving Hundreds of Jobs From Phila. and Tinicum to Newtown Square
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The petroleum conglomerate Sunoco says it is moving about 120 corporate jobs from center city Philadelphia, and a few hundred other jobs from Tinicum Township, to a new headquarters in Newtown Square, Pa.
Sunoco officials say they have decided to consolidate about 500 jobs into one new location in Newtown Square (Delaware County), starting in 2016.
Spokesman Jeff Shields says 120 legal and administrative positions now based at the Mellon Bank Center in center city, 340 marketing and other jobs at the company's current retail headquarters in Tinicum Township, and 50 other positions will be moving.
"The area in Newtown Square allows us a more central location for our employees," he tells KYW Newsradio. "It will actually shorten the commute for employees slightly. This affirms our company's commitment to the greater Philadelphia region."
But it is an apprent blow the Nutter administration's ongoing efforts to retain and attract high-salary jobs to center city -- a notion that a spokesman for Mayor Nutter dismisses. The spokesman says the administration regrets Sunoco's departure but understands the desire to consolidate.
He also says the move does not reflect on the business climate in the city, and cites several recent announcements from firms such as Axalta, FMC, and Urban Outfitters that will bring new jobs here.
The Sunoco spokesman says their job relocations won't affect the 78 Sunoco stations in Philadelphia, nor the firm's philanthropic efforts in the city.
