AES Corp., a $17 billion international power company in Arlington, Va., appointed Joel Abramson vice president of investor relations. He replaces Ahmed Pasha, who was named managing director of mergers and acquisitions. Abramson joined AES in 1995 and has worked in mergers and acquisitions and portfolio management. In his new role, he will continue to be responsible for portfolio management.

Discover Financial Services, the Riverwoods, Ill., card issuer with $6.6 billion in 2010 revenue, named R. Mark Graf CFO, chief accounting officer and executive vice president. He replaces Roy Guthrie, who is retiring. Graf, 46, most recently was an investment adviser with New York-based Aquiline Capital Partners, a private equity firm. Earlier, he was a partner at Barrett Ellman Stoddard Capital from 2006 to 2008. He served as CFO at Fifth Third Bank from 2004 to 2006 and as its treasurer from 2001 to 2004.

NewPage Holding Corp., a coated paper manufacturer in Miamisburg, Ohio, named Ronald Arling chief accounting officer and controller. He succeeds Curtis Short, who was named interim CFO in April. Arling, 39, most recently was NewPage's controller, a position he assumed in November. Earlier, he served as assistant controller and internal audit director. Prior to joining NewPage, Arling was internal audit director at CareSource Management Group and worked at Reynolds & Reynolds, NCR and Deloitte & Touche. NewPage reported sales of $3.6 billion last year.