<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Struggling jewelry chain Zale Corp <ZLC.N> said on Wednesday that its chief executive officer and other top executives have left the company in a management shakeup designed to "help return the company to profitability."</p><p>Zale said that in addition to CEO Neal Goldberg, Chief Merchandising Officer Mary Kwan and Chief Stores Officer William Acevedo have also quit, effective immediately.</p><p>Shares were down 33 cents, or 10.2 percent in after hours trading.</p><p>Zale, whose store chains include Zales Jewelers stores in the United States and Peoples Jewelers in Canada, said its board had selected its president, Theo Killion, to serve as interim CEO.</p><p>Killion joined Zale in 2008 and previously held senior management positions at companies such as Tommy Hilfiger and Limited Brands Inc <LTD.N> .</p><p>The news comes less than a week after the chain announced that sales at its stores open at least a year, or same-store-sales, had fallen 12 percent in November and December.</p><p>That performance contrasts with the 12 percent gain in same-store-sales over the same period reported on Tuesday by its more upscale rival Tiffany & Co. <TIF.N></p><p>The retailer has reported losses in seven of the last eight quarters.</p><p>(Reporting by Phil Wahba)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=66853432&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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