New Heads of May

May Department Stores Co. (St. Louis) has named new presidents for three of its retail divisions.

Jay Levitt is the new president of May Merchandising Co.; Craig Israel becomes president and ceo of Robinsons-May; and Andrew is the new president and ceo of Kaufmann's. All appointments are effectiveJuly 1, 2001.

Levitt, currently president and ceo of Los Angeles-based Robinsons-May, has been with May since 1987, first as vp and divisional merchandise manager at Robinsons-May, later as senior vp and gmm. “Jay's keen understanding of merchandise and fashion will be an outstanding complement to Judi's [Judith Hofer] tremendous leadership of May Merchandising,” said Gene Kahn, May Co. chairman and ceo. “She and Jay will make strong partners in leading our key strategic merchandising initiatives across May's department store organization, particularly the increased development of our proprietary brands.” Hofer will remain in her current position as ceo of May Merchandising and James Hageman will continue as chairman. Levitt will report to Hofer.

Israel, currently president and ceo of Pittsburgh-based Kaufmann's, begin his retail career as a buyer with Lord & Taylor in 1978. He held numerous merchandising positions before being named in 1987 as senior vp and gmm of Sibley's, the division formerly in Rochester, N.Y. From 1987 through 2000, he held a similar position with L.S. Ayres in Indianapolis, Famous-Barr in St. Louis and Foley's in Houston. He was named to his current position in 2000.

Pickman, currently senior vp and gmm at May Merchandising, joined Filene's in Boston, as an assistant buyer in 1975. He held various merchandising positions before being named senior vp and gmm at Filene's in 1992. He was named to his current position in 1997.

The May Department Stores Co. operates about 431 department stores coast-to-coast under a dozen names: Lord & Taylor, Foley's, Filene's, Hecht's, Strawbridge's, Robinsons-May, Famous-Barr, L.S. Ayres, Meier & Frank, The Jones Store, and Kaufmann's, plus 134 David's Bridal stores.