New Filene's Chairman

William Gingerich, an 18-year veteran of The May Department Stores Co. (St. Louis), has been named chairman of the retailer's Boston-based Filene's division. Current chairman J. Kent McHose will retire at the end of August.

Gingerich had previously been chairman of the company's Pittsburgh-based Kaufmann's division. The two divisions are being consolidated.

“Bill Gingerich's years of experience and leadership will provide a smooth transition, particularly as we combine the Filene's and Kaufmann's divisions into one,” said May vice chairman William McNamara. “He will work closely with Tom Kingsbury, Filene's president and ceo.”

Gingerich, 52, joined May in 1984 as controller for Kaufmann's, and was named divisional vp, then vp in 1986. He was promoted to senior vp of finance in 1990, and to senior vp and assistant to the president of Kaufmann's in 1994. He became chairman of Kaufmann's in 1999.