LOS ANGELES COUNTY - News from Jan. 4, 1989

Mattel has named James A. Eskridge executive vice president and chief financial officer, to succeed Charles J. Lee, who has retired. Eskridge, 46, previously was executive vice president-finance and administration at Cooper Communities Inc., a privately owned real estate development company. Eskridge also had been controller in the General Mills’ toy group. Lee will continue as a director of the toy maker, which has headquarters in Hawthorne.