LOS ANGELES

Wickes Cos., the Santa Monica-based conglomerate, said Alfred S. Crimmins will be leaving as president and chief executive of its Collins & Aikman carpet-making subsidiary “to pursue alternative business opportunities.”

Corporate functions previously handled by Crimmins, 53, and others from a New York office will be taken on by Wickes’ headquarters staff, with managers of Collins & Aikman units reporting directly to Wickes Chairman Sanford C. Sigoloff. About 20 jobs will be eliminated at Collins & Aikman’s New York office, a Wickes spokesman said.

Wickes said the actions were taken as part of a streamlining designed to cut costs at the unit, bought in December, 1986.