Federated names Famous-Barr principals

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/17/2005 11:12:00 AM

CINCINNATI -- Federated Department Stores, Inc. has selected a new principal team for its St. Louis-based Famous-Barr division, which will become Macy's Midwest on Feb. 1, 2006.

William McNamara has been named the division's chairman and CEO, and Brian Keck its president and chief operating officer, effective immediately.

Federated is reviewing potential opportunities for Famous-Barr's current principals, President and CEO Ira Pickell and Chairman Duane Nicks.

McNamara, a former merchant principal, most recently served as vice chairman of The May Department Stores Company, which was acquired by Federated on Aug. 30. In addition to his new role at Famous-Barr, McNamara will continue to oversee Marshall Field's and four former May Company divisions until those four divisions are consolidated with Federated's existing Macy's divisions in February 2006. McNamara will report to Federated Vice Chair Susan Kronick.

Keck, a veteran May Company executive and former division operating principal, most recently has served as May's corporate senior vice president for human resources. He will maintain interim corporate human resources responsibility through the merger integration process. Keck will report to McNamara.