Dun & Bradstreet Shakes Up Unit

NEW YORK — Dun & Bradstreet Corp., under attack from customer lawsuits and negative publicity surrounding its credit services sales practices, Monday announced a shake-up that will replace the president of the credit services unit.

John P. Kunz, president of Dun & Bradstreet Credit Services, has been reassigned to a staff position within the company, effective May 15.

Kunz heads a department that is facing several lawsuits by customers who claimed to have been misled into over-purchasing the company’s credit data.

In the shake-up, the company said it formed Dun & Bradstreet Business Credit Services, a new organizational entity within the Business Information Group that will combine five operating units.

Dun & Bradstreet would not comment on whether Kunz’s reassignment was related to the lawsuits.

But with a dominant position in the credit services business, Dun & Bradstreet’s moves were seen as a way of assuring that the growing controversy would not lead to a loss of its leading market share.

Analysts have said that a festering controversy might allow smaller competitors such as TRW Inc. the chance to cut into Dun & Bradstreet’s towering 60% market share.

The new entity will include Dun & Bradstreet Credit Services, D&B; Receivable Management Services, American Credit Indemnity, D&B; Information Resources and D&B; Information Systems.

Jack Murray will become president of the newly formed entity. The company said Murray will continue as president-Americas, Business Information Group and senior vice president-customer information needs for Dun & Bradstreet.

Kunz will become a member of the policy staff of the Business Information Group and will assist James E. Rutter, executive vice president, in directing the company’s worldwide marketing strategy.