General Motors, the $135.6 billion automaker, named James Davlin treasurer and vice president of finance. He succeeds Dan Ammann, who was appointed CFO in April. Davlin, 47, joins GM from Deere & Co., where he most recently served as vice president of corporate strategy and business development. He joined Deere in 2007 as treasurer and vice president. Earlier, Davlin spent 10 years at Eli Lilly in positions including controller, assistant treasurer of global treasury and assistant treasurer of investor relations.

Ford Motor Co., the Dearborn, Mich.-based auto manufacturer with $128.9 billion in 2010 revenue, named K.R. Kent controller for the Americas. He replaces David Schoch, who was named chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China. Kent, 48, most recently was Ford's executive director of investor relations. Since joining the company in 1987,  he has served as vice chairman and CFO for Ford Motor Credit, controller for product development for Ford in Europe and managing director of corporate planning in Japan for Mazda.

Staples, the $24.5 billion office products company in Framingham, Mass., named Christine Komola CFO. She succeeds John Mahoney, who will continue as vice chairman. Komola, 44, most recently served as corporate controller and senior vice president. Since joining the company in 1997, she has served as vice president of planning and control, CFO of Staples.com and general merchandise manager of furniture and wholesaler. Prior to joining Staples, Komola was an audit manager at Ernst & Young.