Zale Corp Appoints Richard Marcus As Chairman

Zale Corp director Richard C. Marcus will replace Robert J. DiNicola as chairman at the end of July.

Marcus, 65-years-old, has been a Zale board member since 1993 and is currently chairman of the jewelry retailer's compensation committee. He is the former chairman and chief executive of Neiman Marcus Group Inc.

DiNicola, 56, has been chairman for the past two years. Before that, he was chairman and chief executive. Mary L. Forte took over the CEO post in June 2002.

DiNicola originally retired from the company in August 2000. He returned in 2001 when his handpicked successor resigned amid falling sales.

"After two years of a successful management transition, it is now time to complete the process," DiNicola said in a press release Tuesday.

A company spokesman said DiNicola would continue to work in the advisory field for a number of retail companies.