——————–

Duke Energy Corp., a $21.5 billion Charlotte, N.C.-based utility company, named David Hauser CFO and group vice president. He has been serving as interim CFO since Robert Brace left in November 2003 to pursue other interests. Hauser, 52, had been Duke's treasurer and senior vice president since 1998 before being named interim CFO. Since joining Duke Power in 1973, he has held various positions, including controller and senior vice president of global asset development.

Georgia-Pacific Corp., a $20.2 billion paper and building products maker, named Robert Nelson controller and vice president and Gerald Shirk vice president of internal audit, a new position. Nelson replaces James Terrell, who is retiring early from the Atlanta-based company. Nelson, 46, was most recently vice president of finance for consumer products and packaging. Previously, he held numerous accounting positions, including division controller of packaged products and controller for shared accounting services after joining the company as manager of external reporting in 1984. Shirk, 46, was most recently vice president of finance for building products manufacturing and distribution. Earlier, he served as controller for various divisions of the company after joining as plant accountant in the gypsum and roofing division in 1979.

Susan Riley was named CFO and senior vice president of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a $1.7 billion clothing chain. She replaces Wesley McDonald, who left the New Albany, Ohio-based company to become CFO of Kohl's Corp. Riley, 45, was most recently CFO of The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Earlier, she served as CFO at both Dial Corp. and Tambrands Inc., and treasurer at Colgate-Palmolive Co.

Air Products and Chemicals Inc., a $6.2 billion provider of gases, named Paul Huck CFO and vice president. Huck succeeds John Owings, who left to pursue other interests. Huck, 54, was most recently corporate controller. Earlier, he served as controller for several divisions within the gases and equipment group, and manager of project control for the engineering department. He joined the Lehigh Valley, Pa.-based company in 1979 as a financial analyst.

Robert Birkenholz was promoted to treasurer of MeadWestvaco Corp., a $7.5 billion paper company based in Stamford, Conn., and Peter Vogel Jr. was named interim principal financial officer and president of the company's papers group. The previous treasurer, Barbara Brasier, and CFO, Cynthia Niekamp, left after the expiration of change-of-control severance agreements they had with The Mead Corp. prior to its merger with Westvaco Corp. Birkenholz, 43, joined MeadWestvaco in 2003 as assistant treasurer. Previously, he had worked at Amerada Hess Corp. since 1989 in finance, planning, risk management and corporate treasury positions, including a five-year stint as assistant treasurer. Vogel had been vice president of corporate services since the 2002 merger. He joined The Mead Corp. in 1980 and was its treasurer prior to the merger.

Hilton Hotels Corp., a $3.8 billion hotel chain, promoted Robert LaForgia to CFO and senior vice president. His predecessor, Matthew Hart, was promoted to president and chief operating officer. LaForgia, 45, was most recently Hilton's controller and senior vice president. He has worked for Hilton for 23 years and had been controller since 1996.

Petco Animal Supplies Inc. named Rodney Carter CFO and executive vice president. Carter succeeds James Myers, who was promoted to CEO. Carter, 46, joined the $1.4 billion San Diego-based chain of pet food and supplies stores from CEC Entertainment Inc., where he was CFO. Earlier, he spent 12 years at JCPenney Co., including serving as CFO of JCPenney Credit, a $4 billion division.

Roy Dean was appointed corporate controller of Owens Corning, a $4.9 billion maker of fiberglass and composite materials based in Toledo, Ohio. Dean succeeds Chuck Dana, who was named president of the composite solutions business. Dean, 44, was most recently controller and vice president of the insulation systems business. He has worked at Owens Corning for 23 years in finance, manufacturing operations and supply chain positions.

OM Group Inc., a $4.9 billion chemical company in Cleveland, Ohio, named R. Louis Schneeberger vice president of finance. The company says Schneeberger will take over as CFO when Thomas Miklich leaves upon completion of the 2003 reporting requirements. Miklich announced last year that he planned to leave to pursue other interests. Schneeberger, 49, previously served as CFO of Olympic Steel Inc. He started his career at Arthur Andersen LLP.

Lafarge North America Inc., a $3.3 billion supplier of construction materials, said that Eric Olsen will become its CFO and executive vice president. He will replace Larry Waisanen, who is retiring at the end of the year. Olsen, 40, is president of Lafarge's northeast cement region and senior vice president of purchasing. He joined Herndon, Va.-based Lafarge in 1999 as senior vice president of strategy and development.

Leo Denault was named CFO and executive vice president of Entergy Corp., a $9.1 billion utility holding company based in New Orleans. Denault, 44, succeeds C. John Wilder, who left to become CEO of TXU Corp. Before joining Entergy in 1999 as vice president of corporate development, Denault had worked at Cinergy Corp. since 1982 in accounting, finance and tax positions, including vice president of corporate development.