Liz Claiborne Inc. President Trudy Sullivan is leaving the company to become the chief executive of Talbots Inc., the apparel companies said on Friday.

Sullivan, 57, will assume her new position on August 6, succeeding Arnold Zetcher, who previously announced his intention to retire. Zetcher will remain chairman of Talbots' board through March 31, 2008.

Liz Claiborne, which is in the process of restructuring, said it plans to eliminate the position of president and that it is almost finished searching for an executive vice president for its newly formed partnered brands division, which includes the Liz Claiborne, Dana Buchman and Ellen Tracy brands.

The company's namesake, designer Liz Claiborne, died in New York on Tuesday at the age of 78.