The Talbots Inc. has appointed Liz Claiborne Inc. president Trudy Sullivan as the new chief executive officer for the company, which owns the Talbots and J.Jill apparel brands.

As president and CEO of Hingham MA-based Talbots, Sullivan will oversee a company with about 1400 stores, a catalog operation with a worldwide circulation of more than 45 million, and an online shopping site at www.talbots.com.

Sullivan, who has headed Liz Claiborne since January 2006 and was previously president of J. Crew, will replace longtime Talbots chief executive Arnold Zetcher on August 6. Zetcher, who announced his retirement as CEO and president last February, will remain in place as chairman of the Talbots board until March 2008.

Under Zetcher, Talbots bought the J.Jill Group chain just over a year ago.