Diageo North America, a $5.2 billion alcoholic beverage producer based in Stamford, Conn., promoted Deirdre Mahlan to CFO and senior vice president. She succeeds John Stewart, who will remain with the company as an advisor. Mahlan, 42, had been vice president of finance for a Diageo subsidiary, Diageo-Guinness USA. She joined Diageo in 2002 when it acquired the Seagram Co., where she had worked since 1992 in positions including assistant controller, vice president of audit for global beverage and entertainment and vice president of finance for the spirits and wine group. Alison Potts-Groenstein, 38, who joined Diageo in early 2004, will succeed Mahlan as vice president of finance at Diageo-Guinness. Potts-Groenstein joined the company from Nestl?? 1/2 Waters North America, where she held positions in business development, strategic planning and analysis and financial planning. Earlier she worked at Cadbury Beverages.

Tyson Foods Inc., the $24.5 billion chicken producer based in Springdale, Ark., named Craig Hart controller, chief accounting officer and senior vice president. He succeeds Rodney Pless, who will lead the company's controls group. Hart, 48, was most recently vice president and head of Tyson's Project Won Manage Financial Team, an effort to increase integration by putting in place a single ERP system companywide. He is credited with having been instrumental in Tyson's implementation of SAP. Hart joined Tyson in 2001 when it acquired IBP, where he had been controller and chief accounting officer since 1990.

James Turner was named CFO of Cinergy Corp., a $4.4 billion utilities operator based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He replaces R. Foster Duncan, who was named CEO of Cinergy's commercial business unit. Turner, 45, was most recently CEO of the company's regulated businesses unit. Prior to joining Cinergy in 1995, he worked at the Indianapolis law firm of Lewis & Kappes P.C. and headed the Indiana state agency that represents utility consumers.

PPL Corp., a $5.5 billion electricity company based in Allentown, Pa., named Paul Farr controller and vice president. He replaces Joseph McCabe, who retired. Farr, 37, was most recently senior vice president of PPL's global operations. Previously, he served as CFO of a subsidiary, PPL Montana LLC, and director of international tax for the company's global operations. Farr joined PPL from Illinova Generating Co., where he served as international project finance manager. Earlier in his career, he was international tax manager for Price Waterhouse LLP and an international tax senior at Arthur Andersen.

Michael Castro was named CFO and senior vice president of Delta Dental of California, effective January 2005. He succeeds Elizabeth Russell, who is retiring. Castro, 42, was most recently senior vice president of finance and controller of the $4.3 billion dental insurance provider based in San Francisco, Calif. Before joining the company in 2000, he was a partner in the audit firm of Clare Chapman Storey & Castro.

Reynolds American Inc., a $5.2 billion tobacco company based in Winston-Salem, N.C., named Daniel Fawley treasurer and senior vice president. He succeeds Lynn Lane, who is retiring. Fawley, 46, was most recently assistant treasurer and vice president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc., prior to its merger with Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. to form Reynolds American. He joined R.J. Reynolds' subsidiary, RJR Nabisco Inc., in 1996 as senior manager of treasury. Fawley moved to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco as assistant treasurer in 1999.

NCR Corp., a $5.5 billion maker of ATMs and other financial electronic equipment based in Dayton, Ohio, named Pete Bocian CFO and senior vice president. He has served as the company's interim CFO since November 2003, when Earl Shanks left to become CFO of Convergys Corp. Bocian, 49, was most recently NCR's vice president of finance. In his 21 years with NCR, he has held a number of financial positions, including CFO of its retail and financial group.

Chiquita Brands International Inc., a $2.6 billion fruit and vegetable distributor based in Cincinnati, Ohio, named Jay Braukman III CFO and senior vice president. He replaces James Riley, who is leaving after helping Chiquita restructure its finances. Braukman, 50, joined Chiquita from ITC^DeltaCom Inc., where he was COO. Before ITC's merger with BTI Telecom Corp. in October 2003, he had been CFO and COO of BTI. Earlier, Braukman was CFO of Rhythms NetConnection Inc. and spent 25 years in finance positions at General Electric Co., including a stint as CFO of its Information Technology Solutions unit.

Michael Bless was named CFO and executive vice president of finance of Maxtor Corp., a $4 billion maker of computer hard disk drives. He succeeds Robert Edwards, who left the Milpitas, Calif.-based company to become CFO of Safeway Inc. Bless, 39, joins Maxtor from Rockwell Automation Inc., where he was CFO and senior vice president. Since joining Rockwell in 1997, Bless also served as vice president of corporate development and planning and vice president of finance of the automation controls systems unit, Rockwell's largest operating unit.

Harry Yanowitz was promoted to CFO and senior vice president of The Pep Boys?? 1/2 Manny, Moe & Jack, a $2.1 billion chain of automotive service stores based in Philadelphia. Yanowitz succeeds George Babich, who had been both the president and CFO since 2002 and continues to serve as president. Yanowitz, 37, was most recently the company's senior vice president of strategy and business development. Earlier, he held positions at Sherpa Investments in Toronto, Chapters Inc. and Bain & Co.

John Presley was named CFO and senior vice president of Marshall & Isley Corp., a $2.7 billion financial service provider based in Milwaukee, Wisc. He succeeds Mark Furlong, who was named president of M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank. Presley, 43, most recently was CFO of National Commerce Financial Corp.