It was reported on Wednesday that Buffalo Bills and Sabres COO, Bruce Popko, and the team’s legal counsel, Beth Kowalczyk, have been dismissed following a reported romantic relationship. According to an Associated Press source, the two had been involved in a romantic relationship for several months.
The Bills and Sabres are owned by Terry and Kim Pegula, who released a statement on Wednesday saying that they had “made the decision to part ways with Bruce Popko and Beth Kowalczyk, effective immediately.” The statement also said that the Pegulas “have no tolerance for behavior that is counter to our organizational values and the culture we are building within our teams and throughout our communities.”
Popko had been with the Bills and Sabres since 2014, while Kowalczyk had been with the team since 2018. Both had been instrumental in helping the teams navigate the legal and business aspects of running a professional sports organization.
The dismissal of Popko and Kowalczyk comes at a difficult time for the Bills and Sabres, as both teams are in the midst of a rebuilding process. The Bills are coming off of a playoff appearance last season, while the Sabres are in the midst of a rebuild that has seen them miss the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons.
The Pegulas have made it clear that they will not tolerate any behavior that goes against their organizational values, and this dismissal is a clear indication of that. It remains to be seen how this situation will affect the Bills and Sabres going forward, but it is clear that the Pegulas are committed to creating a culture of respect and integrity within their organization.
