EXECUTIVES: A Stitch in Time

Despite steady sales ($2.6 billion in 1974), the venerable Singer Co., world renowned for its sewing machines, is in trouble. Its chief executive, Donald P. Kircher, 60, has recently been too ill to run the company. Profits have plummeted from a record $94.5 million in 1973 to a net loss of $10.1 million last year and another net loss so far this year of $36.7 million. The time had clearly come to find a new top man.

Last week Singer announced its choice: Joseph B. Flavin, 47, former president of Xerox Corp.'s international...

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