NATION

Kaspar V. Cassani, one of two vice chairmen at International Business Machines, is relinquishing the second-ranking job in anticipation of his retirement next year. Meanwhile, C. Michael Armstrong, a senior vice president, has been named to IBM’s management committee, the corporation’s senior executive committee, and will return to the United States from Paris. David E. McKinney, another senior vice president, will become president and chief executive of the IBM World Trade Europe-Middle East-Africa Corp., based in Paris.

Cassani, who will return to Europe, continues as chairman and president of IBM World Trade Corp. He was named vice chairman earlier this year along with Jack D. Kuehler.