BRIEFLY / DELIVERY SERVICES : UPS Vice Chairman to Retire After IPO

John W. Alden, the No. 2 executive at closely held United Parcel Service of America Inc., plans to retire early next year, shortly after the company’s planned $3-billion initial public offering. Alden, 57, is vice chairman, in charge of strategic planning, sales, marketing, logistics and customer service. He joined Atlanta-based UPS in 1965. UPS won’t immediately replace Alden, though it promoted Michael L. Eskew, senior vice president of engineering, to executive vice president. Eskew, 50, will oversee strategic planning, logistics and information service, while keeping his engineering duties. UPS said in July that it plans to sell a 10% stake to the public, giving it stock for acquisitions. It expects the sale to occur this year.