Mullen New Chief of May Co., California

May Department Stores Co. has appointed David P. Mullen to succeed Kenneth F. Sokol, who is retiring as president and chief executive of its Los Angeles-based May Co., California division.

Mullen, previously was president of Filene’s, a 19-store May Department Stores division based in Boston. He will assume his new position on Jan. 15. May Co. California includes 37 stores in Southern California and Nevada.

Mullen, 56, began his career with the Cleveland-based Higbee’s department store chain, serving in a variety of merchandising positions before joining the Washington-based Woodward & Lothrop department store chain in 1972. He was named president of Woodward & Lothrop in 1972. He joined the St. Louis-based May Department Stores in 1988 as president of the Phoenix-based Goldwaters department store division, relinquishing the post the same year to take the position at Filene’s.

Sokol, 62, is retiring after a 31-year career with May Department Stores. He joined the California division as a buyer in 1960 and subsequently held merchandising positions at three May Department Store divisions. He returned to May Co. as president of the Southland retailing operation in February, 1986.

The division’s sales grew steadily during Sokol’s tenure, said Richard L. Battram, vice chairman of May Department Stores. The California division had sales of $740 million when Sokol was named president in 1986. Sales in the current fiscal year are expected to reach the $1-billion level, Battram said.

Industry analysts said Sokol is leaving the division in a relatively strong competitive state.

Edgar S. Mangiafico continues as chairman of May Co., California.

May Co.--the third largest division within the 303-store May Department Stores chain--had sales of $954 million in the fiscal year ended Feb. 3.