 At the request of the board of directors, he retired on December 31, 1985, rather than on his 65th birthday as expected under company rules; his successor, Edward A. Brennan, became president and chief operating officer of the company in August 1984.Sears was beset by crises at the start of Telling's chairmanship.Although during the first four years of his tenure the company's situation continued to worsen and business publications described him as one of the worst corporate executives, when he left it was again on a sound footing.