NATION

Gould Inc. said James F. McDonald has resigned as chairman and chief executive in connection with the acquisition of the Rolling Meadows, Ill., electronics company by Japan’s Nippon Mining Co. McDonald will join the board of Gould NavCom Systems, which will have complete autonomy from the Japanese parent. That separation is required by the Pentagon because the unit is a major defense contractor. C. David Ferguson, 46, a 25-year veteran of the company, was named to replace McDonald. He was most recently executive vice president of Gould’s materials and components division.