NEW YORK — May Co. executives are marching into Macy’s.
On Wednesday, Federated Department Stores Inc., parent of Macy’s and the new owner of May Department Stores, disclosed a sweeping reorganization of senior management at Macy’s around the country. It involves top officials from such former May divisions as Marshall Field’s and Foley’s, as well as reassignments for Macy’s executives.
Among the changes, Frank J. Guzzetta, president and chief executive officer of Marshall Field’s, will become chairman and ceo of Minneapolis-based Macy’s North. Also, Robert M. Soroka will become president and chief operating officer of Macy’s North. Currently, he is chairman of Field’s.
The changes all go into effect Feb. 1 as the company converts May stores to Macy’s. The $17 billion merger was completed in August and catapults Federated into an 800-unit department store giant operating Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s.
“Over the next 60 days, there will be hundreds of appointments” involving May managers joining Macy’s and Macy’s executives moving from one division to another, said Federated spokesman Jim Sluzewski.
“There are still conversations happening and offers being made,” he said. Sluzewski added that no job losses result from this round of executive changes, although 6,200 jobs at May’s corporate headquarters eventually will be eliminated, as reported.
Federated also expects to start announcing store divestitures early next year. Eighty stores are on the selling block, leaving the retailer with about 800.
“Enhancing our company’s already strong talent pool was a key objective of the May acquisition, and today’s announcements are a clear indication that we have made great strides in that regard,” Terry J. Lundgren, Federated’s chairman, president and ceo, said in a statement Wednesday.
“By retaining experienced executives from the May Co. organization and combining their skills with Federated’s existing division leadership, we will strengthen our Macy’s divisions as we grow to serve customers in new geographic regions across the country.”
Wednesday’s announcement affects all Macy’s divisions except Macy’s East and Macy’s Florida.
Daniel H. Edelman will become president and chief operating officer of San Francisco-based Macy’s West, succeeding Michael Osborne, who joined Macy’s Home Store in August. Currently, Edelman is chairman and ceo of Macy’s Northwest in Seattle. Robert Mettler remains as ceo of Macy’s West.
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Jeff Gennette will become chairman and ceo of Macy’s Northwest. Currently, he is executive vice president and director of stores at Atlanta-based Macy’s Central, which becomes Macy’s South early next year.
Robert B. Harrison, currently chairman of Robinsons-May in Los Angeles, will become president and chief operating officer of Macy’s Northwest.
Andrew P. Pickman will become president and chief merchandising officer of Macy’s South. Currently, he is president and ceo of Foley’s in Houston. Michael G. Krauter, president and chief merchandising officer of Macy’s Central, will become vice chairman and director of stores at Macy’s South.
John T. Harper, the chairman of Hecht’s/Strawbridge’s, will become vice chairman and director of stores at Macy’s Midwest. Paul Goggin became senior vice president of operations and logistics at Macy’s Midwest after having served as senior vice president at Famous-Barr.
Previously announced was the leadership team at the new Macy’s Midwest division, based in St. Louis — William P. McNamara, chairman and ceo, and Brian L. Keck, president and chief operating officer.
The department store divisions all report to Federated vice chairman Susan D. Kronick. “The combination of viewpoints from Federated and May Co. will bring fresh ideas and additional energy to our Macy’s brand, along with a continuing determination to improve our offering,” Kronick said.
Macy’s Home Store, the New York-based central merchandising arm feeding Macy’s divisions with home goods, also tapped Jeffrey A. Kantor as furniture president, a new post. Currently, Kantor is president and ceo at Hecht’s/Strawbridge’s in Arlington, Va. Home goods sales have been soft recently, but Federated vice chairman Janet E. Grove, to whom Macy’s Home Store reports, said, “We look forward to strengthening our big-ticket home business in the seasons ahead with furniture that reflects the lifestyles of our core customers.”
Federated also said its formalwear group purchased Mr. Tux, which operates a total of 40 Mr. Tux and Squire Tux stores in New England. The formalwear group includes David’s Bridal, After Hours Formalwear and Priscilla of Boston.