Ex-Bullock’s Chairman Named President of Burdines Chain

James E. Gray, who was briefly chairman of Bullock’s-Bullocks Wilshire until the chains’ purchase by R. H. Macy & Co., has been named president of Burdines, a Miami-based department store chain owned by Federated/Allied Department Stores.

The appointment of Gray, 49, completes a round of management shuffling at Federated divisions that began after Robert Campeau’s successful takeover of the mammoth retailing company in April.

Gray and Howard Socol, chairman and chief executive of Burdines, will also direct operations of Campeau’s other Florida divisions, including Jordan Marsh/Maas Bros. Campeau Corp., of which Robert Campeau is chairman, bought those chains as part of its purchase of Allied Stores in December, 1986.

Socol and Gray will begin soon to consolidate all non-merchandising, back-office support areas of the three operations as a cost-saving move, a Campeau release said Monday. But a spokeswoman said the number of layoffs that would result has not been determined.

Gray began his career with Federated in 1961 as an executive trainee at Houston-based Foley’s. He moved to Bullock’s that year, progressing to vice president for finance and control in 1977 and senior vice president for finance, control and long-range planning in 1980. He became executive vice president in 1983, president in 1985 and chairman only in January.

Earlier, Gray turned down Macy’s offer to become president of its California operation, based in San Francisco.