Sherwood to Take Post of A&P; President

James Wood, chairman and chief executive of Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., will relinquish the title of president to P. Louis Sherwood, the company announced Wednesday.

Sherwood, like Wood, joins the Montvale, N.J.-based supermarket chain from Grand Union Co., another chain based in Elmwood, N.J.

A&P; spokesman Michael Rourke said Wood, 55, “felt the need to bring in a young man who could take on the president’s role.” He added that the position has traditionally been held by someone other than the chairman and chief executive.

Sherwood, 43, and Wood worked together at Grand Union, a subsidiary of the British firm Cavenham Ltd., when Wood was chairman and chief executive. Wood was hired as chairman and chief executive of A&P; in 1980 and took on the additional title of president after the resignation of David Morrow in 1981.

A&P;, which is 51% owned by Tengelmann Group of West Germany, had revenue of $5 billion in its latest fiscal year.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

American Medical International Inc., Beverly Hills, has appointed John P. Cole as senior vice president of AMI Group Health Services, a new operating division.

James P. Gilbert was named vice president-U.S. sales of Max Factor & Co., Hollywood.

Vince Larinto has been named vice president and general manager of Playhouse Video, Los Angeles, a unit of CBS/Fox Video.

NATION

Nat Lehrman, president of Chicago-based Playboy Enterprises Inc.’s publishing division since 1982, “will move into an advisory role,” the company said.

Christie Hefner, president and chief operating officer of Playboy Enterprises, said Lehrman “would like more time to pursue other interests” but will stay through the transition to a new president and “will continue to work with Playboy as a consultant on publishing matters.” No successor has been chosen.