* Van Nuys-based Live Entertainment Inc. said...

* Van Nuys-based Live Entertainment Inc. said its wholly owned subsidiary Live Specialty Retail Group named William A. Laupus as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Laupus, formerly corporate vice president of stores and operations at Zale Corp., will oversee store operations and chainwide distribution.

Live’s 141-store retail group, based in Milford, Mass., includes Strawberries Records, Tapes & CDs in the New England area and Waxie Maxie, a music retail chain in the Washington and Baltimore areas.

Live also said Ivan Lipton, executive vice president of Strawberries, was promoted to executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of the retail group.