Dayton Hudson President and Chief Operating Officer...

Dayton Hudson President and Chief Operating Officer Boake A. Sells has resigned to become chairman and chief executive officer of an unnamed “large American retail organization in which he will have an important equity position,” the Minneapolis retailer said. Dayton Hudson, which owns the Target and Mervyn’s chains, did not name a successor to Sells, 50. Industry Speculation about Sells’ destination centered on four companies: Allied Stores, Revco, Jack Eckerd Corp. or Supermarkets General. Retail analyst Edward Weller of Montgomery Securities said he believes that the move is unrelated to Dart Group’s attempt to take over Dayton Hudson.