* Keith McKennon, called in to help...

* Keith McKennon, called in to help Midland, Mich.-based Dow Corning Corp. manage the crisis resulting from its silicone-gel breast implants, said he will retire next year.

Meanwhile, President Lawrence Reed--deposed as chief executive in favor of McKennon--said he will retire at the end of this year. Reed, who is also chief operating officer, will remain on the board.

Dick Hazleton, president of Dow Corning Europe, will succeed McKennon and is also expected to replace Reed as Dow Corning president at the Jan. 1 directors’ meeting.

McKennon replaced Reed as CEO and John Ludington as board chairman in February, giving up his position at Dow Chemical Co., where he guided the company through controversies surrounding Agent Orange and dioxin.

Because McKennon, 58, had planned to retire in 1993, Reed, 53, decided it was better to step down now to assure a smooth transition, company spokeswoman Barbara Carmichael said.