President of Protection One Resigns

James M. Mackenzie Jr., president and chief executive of Culver City-based Protection One Inc., resigned from the company. Protection One, a leading residential security alarm company, gave no reason for the resignation. Two of the founding partners of the company will take over Mackenzie’s responsibilities, the company said. John E. Mack III has been named chief executive and Thomas K. Rankin will become president and chief operating officer. Protection One is 85% owned by Western Resources Inc. of Topeka, Kan. The stock prices of both companies have slumped in the last year, each falling more than a third on concerns about overexpansion of Protection One and fears that Western Resources’ planned $3-billion acquisition of Kansas City Power may be on the verge of collapse.