Change at Robinson’s

Continuing a purge at its troubled J. W. Robinson division, May Department Stores named Elden Rasmussen, a May veteran, to be chairman of the Southern California department store, replacing Alfonso Schettini, 58, who retired.

The change, effective March 1, follows by three weeks the resignation of Tom L. Roach, who had held the titles of chairman and chief executive since March, 1986. His replacement was Robert L. Mettler, 46, who had spent one month as head of May’s L. S. Ayres division in Indianapolis.

Mettler was named president and chief executive of Robinson’s, and Schettini, who had held the title of president since 1980, became chairman. A May spokesman said the title change was made to conform with other May units.

Schettini’s retirement was announced within the company earlier in the week.

Rasmussen, who has been with May for 33 years, serves now as chairman of its Kaufmann’s division in Pittsburgh.

May, based in St. Louis, acquired Robinson’s last October when it purchased Associated Dry Goods.