Ducommun Selects Bell as President

W. Donald Bell, a full time electronics executive and occasional race car driver, has been named president and chief operating officer of Ducommun Inc. of Los Angeles.

In addition to assuming the corporation’s No. 2 position, Bell will retain the presidencies of both the Ducommun Electronics Group and Kierulff Electronics, Ducommun’s largest operating division. Both units are located in Orange County.

Bell, 48, has been president of Kierulff since April, 1981; he took on the presidency of Ducommun Electronics when it was established in October, 1984.

In addition, Bell has served as senior vice president of Ducommun Inc. since February, 1985, and has been a member of the corporation’s board of directors since February, 1984.

In his new position, Bell will report directly to Wallace W. Booth, Ducommun’s chairman and chief executive. Bell replaces David G. Schmidt, who abruptly resigned the post last month, citing differences with Booth over business philosophies.

Bell joined the Ducommun corporate family in 1980 as executive vice president for Kierulff Electronics, a wholesale distributor. Earlier he had served as executive vice president of corporate marketing for American Microsystems Inc. in Silicon Valley. Previously, Bell served as president and chief executive officer of Electronic Arrays Inc., also in the Silicon Valley.

For relaxation, Bell frequently joins the professional Formula One race circuit with the Buick-powered Royale coupe he owns. Aides say Bell does “pretty well” at his hobby. Several weeks ago, a spokesman said, Bell and his team completed 22 hours of the 24-hour Daytona endurance race in Florida.