NATION

Edgar S. Woolard Jr. will become president and chief operating officer of DuPont Co., effective March 1, while Constantine S. Nicandros will become president and chief executive of Conoco Inc., a wholly owned DuPont subsidiary.

The action follows the announcement that Ralph E. Bailey will retire as chairman of Conoco and vice chairman of the board of DuPont.

Both Bailey and Woolard had each held the title of vice chairman. That position will be discontinued.

Woolard, 52, was named a vice chairman for Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont in 1985.

Nicandros, 53, currently is president of worldwide petroleum operations for Conoco. He will continue as an executive vice president of DuPont and a member of its board and executive committee.