NATION

Tom L. Roach, who resigned abruptly in January as chairman and CEO of the troubled J. W. Robinson Co. department store chain, has been named president of Woodward & Lothrop, a Washington retailer.

Roach will serve as president of Woodward & Lothrop in Washington as well as John Wanamaker’s, a Philadelphia department store chain, which Woodward & Lothrop bought in December from Carter Hawley Hale Stores.

Roach, 43, succeeds David P. Mullen, 52, who resigned to pursue other interests. Roach’s appointment is effective April 20. Wanamaker’s and Woodward & Lothrop, both owned by Taubman Investment Co., have combined annual sales estimated at about $1 billion.

The corporate staffs of Wanamaker’s and Woodward & Lothrop will be combined, although both chains will keep their separate names, a spokeswoman for Woodward & Lothrop said.

Roach resigned from his post at Robinson’s after only 10 months and not long after May Department Stores bought Robinson’s as part of its merger with Associated Dry Goods. Roach could not be reached for comment Tuesday.