Macy's West picks chief executive

By Rachel Katz
Bloomberg News

CINCINNATI — Federated Department Stores Inc. promoted Robert Mettler to chairman and chief executive officer of its 138-store Macy's West division, the retailer's largest.

He replaces Jeremiah Sullivan, 63, who is retiring after 22 years with Federated.

Mettler, 61, had been president and chief operating officer of Macy's West since January 2000.

A former merchandising head at Sears, Roebuck & Co., Mettler said he would continue to look for items to attract new and younger customers to help boost sales.

The division, Federated's biggest by number of stores, runs Macy's in seven states in the Midwest, Southwest and West, including more than 80 in California and 17 in Hawai'i.

"I want to be open to new and exciting merchandise so the stores are more appealing to a younger customer who can stay with us," Mettler said in an interview. "One of my mantras is 'more new, more often.' "

Sullivan's retirement was expected, said Federated spokeswoman Carol Sanger. He has headed Macy's West since 1995, the company said.

Mettler, whose appointment is effective June 1, was president of merchandising for full-line stores at Sears, the largest U.S. department-store chain, before joining Federated.

Michael Osborn, 54, president and chief operating officer of Federated's Burdines division, will succeed Mettler.

Federated's Macy's East division has 115 stores, of which more than a quarter are in New York, according to its Web site. Federated, whose other chains include Bloomingdale's, Lazarus and Rich's, has more than 460 stores.