The executive, who has yet to be chosen, would offer expertise to the 32 local school boards that supervise elementary and middle schools.

"Luxury Park Avenue law firm," was the best description the chief executive could offer.

Industry analysts and retail executives offered a variety of reasons for the increase.

A young business executive said that a few years ago, a Japanese executive offered to pay for her to study in Japan.

But executives offered few details about debt, saying only that they would continue the two companies' current restructuring plans, which began three years ago.

Economists and executives offer a variety of explanations for the change.

However, neither executive would offer any insight into the club's thinking.

But although the top executive, Tom Johnson, offered to resign, he remained.

Japanese executives offer two other important reasons why they can expand more easily than foreign competitors.

He added, too, that some executives offered money, anonymously, but no public support.