Roeder to Leave as Chairman of Fotomat
Ross E. Roeder, who led Fotomat Corp. past some “major obstacles” after becoming chairman and chief executive three years ago, announced that he will step down this summer upon the completion of a cash infusion from Konishiroku Photo Industry Co. of Japan.
Shigero Suzuki, 45, a Konishiroku executive, was named interim president until Fotomat finds a new chief executive.
Under Roeder, the photo-finishing company settled a $10-million antitrust suit brought by Fotomat franchisees in Southern California, sold off unprofitable subsidiaries, shut down a third of its retail kiosks and moved its headquarters to St. Petersburg, Fla., from Wilton, Conn.
“Fotomat has faced some major obstacles in the past few years,” Roeder, 47, said in a statement. “With most of these challenges solved and behind us, the company is now positioned for future growth and profitability.”
Konishiroku, which manufactures Konica cameras and supplies Fotomat with most of its photo-finishing paper and film, agreed in January to invest $10 million in cash in Fotomat and to exchange its $13.5 million debenture for common stock.
In return, Konishiroku is to receive 14.5 million newly issued Fotomat shares, giving it a 62% stake in the company.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Ducommun Inc., Los Angeles, named H. Frederick Christie, president of Southern California Edison Co., to its board of directors. Christie’s election raises Ducommun’s board membership to 12.
Donald K. Payne has been named vice president and head of the Redondo Beach office of McBer & Co., Boston, a human-resources management consulting firm. He is a former vice president-employee relations for Mattel Electronics, Hawthorne.
John J. Ryan was named president of Hannaford Co. / West Inc., Los Angeles, a public relations firm.
Floyd Mathews has been appointed corporate counsel for Paracelsus Healthcare Corp., Pasadena, which owns 12 hospitals and five convalescent homes in California and Nevada.
John W. Mustin has been named executive vice president-marketing for Strauss Construction Co., Los Angeles.
H. Frederick Bergamo was named to the newly created position of vice president-finance of Cable TV Industries, Los Angeles.
Richard D. DeLauer has been named a director of Cordura Corp., Los Angeles.
Peter Bierstedt has been named executive vice president of New World Pictures, Los Angeles. He will act as general counsel and be responsible for legal and business affairs
Robert L. North has been named vice president and general manager of Redondo Beach-based TRW’s electronic systems group. He succeeds Edsel D. Dunford, who has been named vice president and general manager of TRW’s space and technology group.
Edmund M. Kaufman, a senior partner in the law firm of Irell & Manella, has been elected a director of Wickes Cos., Santa Monica.
CALIFORNIA
Robert F. Kelly has been named vice president-marketing and sales of Digital Sound Corp., Santa Barbara.
Barry Obrand has been named vice president-marketing for San Jose-based Businessland Inc., a microcomputer retailer.
Kenneth L. Kenitzer has been named vice president-operations for Compression Labs Inc., which manufactures video teleconferencing systems.
Sea-Land Corp., Menlo Park, a freight-transportation and trade-services company, made the following appointments: Robert J. Fahey, senior vice president-planning and development; David J. Tolan, senior vice president-labor relations, and Frank R. Power, vice president-corporate planning.
NeuroScience Inc., a newly formed Los Altos-based company, has named John P. Walker president and chief operating officer.
NATION
William E. Ahearn has been named managing editor of the Associated Press, succeeding Wick Temple, who becomes director of human resources, a new post.
Ahearn, who has been assistant managing editor of the international news cooperative for the past four years, joined AP in 1971 as a broadcast news writer.
Boyd C. Bartlett has been named president and chief operating officer of Deere & Co., Moline, Ill. Robert A. Hanson remains chairman and chief executive.
Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust Co. elected the following directors: Archie R. Boe, former chairman of Allstate Insurance Cos. and former president of Sears, Roebuck & Co.; John H. Johnson, president and publisher of Johnson Publishing Co., and Leonard H. Lavin, chairman of Alberto-Culver Co.
The bank was the object of a $4.5-billion federal rescue effort last year.
Federated Department Stores Inc., Cincinnati, named Robert Tammero president of its Bloomingdale’s division. He will be succeeded as president of Abraham & Straus in Brooklyn, N.Y., by Robert Anderson.
