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Rite Aid Corp. said that it asked its CFO, Christopher Hall, to step down after he proposed a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a matter involving a previous employer. The $15.8 billion drugstore chain said John Standley, its chief administrative officer and senior executive vice president, would take on the role of CFO in addition to his other responsibilities. Hall, who had been CFO since 2002, was named to the new position of senior vice president of planning and real estate. Hall's proposed settlement relates to his employment at Ralphs Grocery Co., now part of Kroger Co., and not Rite Aid. Still, the news was an unfortunate echo of Rite Aid's own accounting problems in the late 1990s, which led to a federal criminal investigation. Standley, 40, was part of the new management team brought in after those accounting problems. He joined Rite Aid in December 1999 as CFO and executive vice president. Earlier, he served as CFO at Fleming Companies Inc., Fred Meyer Inc. and Ralphs Grocery, after starting his career at Arthur Andersen LLP.

GEICO, a $6.6 billion insurer based in Chevy Chase, Md., that is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., named Bill McDonald controller. Tom Wells, who had been both CFO and controller, continues to serve as CFO. McDonald had been GEICO's associate controller since 1986, after joining in 1979 as a cost benefit administrator.

Jeffrey Farber was promoted to controller of The Bear Stearns Cos., a $5.9 billion investment banking and brokerage company based in New York City. He succeeds Marshall Levinson, who was named senior vice president of finance. Farber, 39, joined Bear Stearns in 2000 as assistant controller after 14 years at Deloitte & Touche.

Richard Brown Jr. was named controller of Eastman Kodak Co., a $12.8 billion maker of photographic film based in Rochester, N.Y. He succeeds Robert Rozek, who was promoted to director and vice president of finance for Kodak's European, African and Middle Eastern operations. Brown, 55, joined Kodak from Ernst & Young LLP, where he had worked for 32 years.

Tyco International Ltd., a $36.8 billion provider of electric security and fire protection services based in Bermuda, named Carol (John) Davidson senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, a new position for the company. Davidson, 48, came to Tyco from Dell Inc., where he was vice president of audit, risk and compliance. Earlier, he held other financial positions at Dell, including corporate controller and chief compliance officer, and spent 16 years at Eastman Kodak in financial positions.

Gail Peck was promoted to treasurer and vice president of Centex Corp., a $9.1 billion Dallas-based builder. She replaces Vicki Roberts, who is retiring. Peck joined Centex as managing director of corporate finance in 2001. Previously, she held numerous financial positions at American Airlines and worked at Bank of Boston.

Xcel Energy Inc., a $9.5 billion electricity and gas provider based in Minneapolis, Minn., named Teresa Madden controller and vice president. She succeeds David Ripka, who is retiring. Madden, 47, most recently was vice president of finance for Xcel's energy customer and field operations. She started her career with a predecessor company of Xcel in 1979. Madden has held a variety of positions at Public Service Co. of Colorado and served as controller of New Century Energies, both predecessors of Xcel.

Aramark Corp., a $9.4 billion food service company based in Philadelphia, hired Chris Holland as treasurer and vice president. He succeeds Barbara Austell, who is retiring. Holland, 37, came to Aramark from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., where he had worked since 1988, most recently as a vice president of investment banking.

Michael Huseby was appointed CFO and executive vice president of Charter Communications Inc., a $4.5 billion St. Louis-based cable system operator. He succeeds Kent Kalkwarf, who was dismissed in 2002 amid an accounting scandal. Steve Schumm, the company's executive vice president, served as interim CFO. Huseby, 49, had been CFO of AT&T Broadband until its 2002 merger with Comcast. He was most recently president and founder of MPH Associates Inc., a management and information technology firm.

The PNC Financial Services Group Inc., a $6.3 billion financial services provider based in Pittsburgh, named E. William Parsley III as treasurer and chief investment officer. He succeeds Randall King, who was named chief operating officer of PNC's treasury organization. Parsley, 38, spent almost 15 years at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., where he worked with PNC's CFO, William Demchak. Parsley most recently was head of J.P. Morgan's global derivative books and co-head of its North American interest rate trading group.

Steven Fradkin was named CFO of Northern Trust Corp., a $2.7 billion provider of banking, investment management and trust services based in Chicago. Fradkin is adding the CFO job to his current duties as executive vice president and head of Northern's finance group. As CFO, he succeeds Perry Pero, who remains vice chairman and a member of the management committee. Fradkin, 41, joined Northern Trust in 1985. Before becoming head of finance, he was responsible for the bank's international business.

American Express Co., the $23.8 billion provider of financial and travel-related services, named Joan Amble comptroller and senior vice president. She replaces Tom Iseghohi, who left in August to pursue other interests. Amble, 50, had worked for General Electric Co. since 1989, most recently as CFO and chief operating officer of GE Capital's capital markets division. She also served as controller of GE Capital and CFO of its commercial real estate business. Earlier, Amble worked at the Financial Accounting Standards Board and Ernst & Young LLP.