Looking Ahead

The Neiman Marcus Group Inc. (Dallas) has formed an office of the chairman, earning two company executives additional responsibilities and throwing the spotlight on the possibility that one of them is being tapped as a successor when chairman, ceo and president Burt Tansky retires.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, two veteran officials are leading contenders for the position: Karen Katz, president and ceo of Neiman Marcus Stores, who now has the additional role of executive vice president of the group; and James Skinner, senior vice president and chief financial officer, who was also promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer of the group, with additional responsibility for information services.

Tansky is the third member of the newly formed chairman office. Both Katz and Skinner report to him. “We're creating a brain trust,” said Tansky in an exclusive interview with WWD.

When WWD asked Tansky if creating the chairman's office was part of a succession strategy, he replied: “I don't know that. We are creating a different kind of structure at the top and that's it. Karen and Jim are continuing to do what they are doing and they take on some additional responsibility. They join me in setting corporate policy and strategic direction. That's it. There's nothing more to it. We are not changing our strategy. This is merely a way of recognizing two people's performance, which has been outstanding, and giving them more responsibility.”

Tansky, who is 69 years old, has a contract with Neiman’s through October 2008 as ceo, and 2010 as chairman. It is possible the contract could be extended.