NATION

The Limited and Geraldine Stutz announced her resignation as president of Henri Bendel, a high-fashion specialty store in Manhattan, effective July 31.

Attorneys for both sides have been negotiating an end to her contract for some time. Industry observers say Stutz’s merchandising philosophies differed sharply from those of Leslie H. Wexner, chairman of the Limited, which also owns Lane Bryant, Limited Express and Victoria’s Secret specialty stores.

The Limited, which bought the Bendel store last year, said that no successor has been selected and that Stutz will make her plans known soon. The Limited has said it hopes to expand the single-unit Bendel operation with branches.