COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

Wherehouse Shakes Up Corporate Staff: The Torrance-based music and video retailer laid off five senior executives and named two others to top posts in a revamping prompted by a management study. Jerry Goldress, who has been a consultant, was named president and chief operating officer, while Wherehouse executive Cathy Wood was named chief financial officer. Executives who were cut loose include marketing chief Bruce Jesse, who was the chain’s chief spokesman during Wherehouse’s recent, highly publicized battle with the music industry over its right to sell used compact discs. Chief Executive Scott Young said Wherehouse, which has suffered from the soft Southern California economy, wanted to cut its home office bureaucracy and give more freedom to its stores.