McIntyre Will Become Chairman of SoCal Gas

Robert M. McIntyre, president of Southern California Gas Co., will become the utility’s chairman and chief executive when chairman John C. Abram retires Oct. 1 at age 65.

McIntyre, 61, who joined the gas company as a salesman in 1952, has been in line for the top job since his appointment as president in 1980.

Abram’s retirement completes a career at the company spanning 34 years. He began as an industrial gas engineer in 1951 and assumed the chairmanship in 1981.

McIntyre said he plans no major adjustments when he takes over in October.

“I believe our style of management is pretty well set. Those things won’t change.” He said the major challenge facing him is controlling gas prices through prudent purchases and lower administrative costs.

Pacific Lighting Corp., parent of Southern California Gas, also announced two other appointments.

Jonel C. Hill, 59, executive vice president of the gas company, will succeed McIntyre as president, and Willis B. Wood, senior vice president of Pacific Lighting, will become executive vice president June 1.

Hill joined the gas company in 1968 after nine years as Oregon’s public utilities commissioner. Wood, a petroleum engineer, will supervise the parent firm’s land development, alternate energy and financial services operations.

Southern California Gas is the nation’s largest natural gas utility, serving 4 million customers.

NATION

William F. Smith Jr., president and chief executive of Pabst Brewing Co., Milwaukee, says he expects to resign in the wake of the brewer’s takeover by California investor Paul Kalmanovitz.

Smith, 49, said he expected to submit his resignation within two weeks and expects to be paid more than $560,000 under terms of a severance contract with the company.

Smith has two years remaining under his current contract, which permits him to resign following a change of ownership.

A Kalmanovitz spokesman said he has acquired nearly 90% of the 6.3 million Pabst shares and is continuing to buy even though his $10-a-share tender offer expired at midnight Monday.

Nine other top executives have severance contracts known as “golden parachute” agreements worth more than $1 million, Smith said. He added that he suspected that Kalmanovitz would not retain current executives in appropriate positions.

Smith took his first job in the brewing industry as a night watchman at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. while attending college. He rose through the ranks to become president of Pittsburgh Brewing before leaving for Pabst in 1981.

John Selby, 63, said he will resign as chairman, president and chief executive of Consumers Power Co. of Jackson, Mich., by Nov. 1. The utility is saddled with debt from its unfinished $7-billion Midland nuclear power project, which was halted last June.

Hercules P. Sotos has been appointed president of International Playtex Inc., one of the consumer products segments of Beatrice Cos., Chicago. He is replacing Walter W. Bregman, who left the company.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Jack McCarley was named vice president-public affairs for Bullock’s and Bullocks Wilshire department stores, Los Angeles. He succeeds Frank Rice, who is retiring.

Yasuo Sugihara has been named president of Juki Office Machine Corp., Torrance. He replaces Thomas B. O’Reilly, who remains a director and consultant.

CALIFORNIA

Signetics Corp., a Sunnyvale-based semiconductor manufacturer, said Charles C. Harwood, president and chief executive since 1970, is resigning to join another company. Norman A. Neumann, executive vice president of U.S. Philips Corp., Signetics’ parent, will temporarily assume the positions until a permanent successor is found.

World Mail Center Inc., Camarillo, named James C. McGovern president and chief executive. M. Bruce Wright remains chairman.

James Charnes has been named chairman, president and chief executive of Braegen Corp., Milpitas, a maker of office-automation systems. He succeeds Paul Klein, who resigned.

RCA Elects Chief Executive

RCA Corp. said Wednesday that President Robert R. Frederick was elected chief executive, succeeding Thornton F. Bradshaw, 67, who remains chairman of the entertainment and communications concern.

The move was expected. Bradshaw had said at RCA’s annual meeting last April that he would turn over the chief executive’s position to Frederick, 59, before the company’s annual meeting this year. Frederick, who has been RCA’s president and chief operating officer since September, 1982, had been with General Electric Co. for 34 years when he was brought in by Bradshaw. Bradshaw, a former president of Los Angeles-based Atlantic Richfield Co., joined RCA four years ago. “With RCA restored to record profitability, with our balance sheet in excellent condition and with our businesses strongly positioned for long-term growth, this is the natural time for a transition,” Bradshaw said in a statement Wednesday.