Federated Taps Chief of Burdines Division

Cincinnati, OH, Dec. 20--An executive who joined the Miami-based Burdines division of Federated Department Stores Inc. last year has been appointed its president and chief operating officer. Nirmal K. Tripathy's appointment is effective immediately, Federated announced Friday. The job had been vacant since Michael Osborn became president and chief operating officer of Federated's Macy's West division in June 2002. Tripathy, 45, joined Burdines in July 2002 as executive vice president of administration. He had previously served since February 2000 as chief financial officer of Limited Stores, a division of Limited Brands Inc. Burdines will begin operating as Burdines-Macy's throughout Florida effective Jan. 30, when Burdines will assume buying and management responsibilities for Macy's Florida operations. The Burdines-Macy's group will include 56 Burdines and seven Macy's stores. Federated has annual sales of about $15.4 billion. Its other store groups are Bloomingdale's, Bon-Macy's, Goldsmith's-Macy's, Lazarus-Macy's and Rich's-Macy's. The company also operates macys.com and Bloomingdale's By Mail.