Caterpillar, the $60 billion manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, appointed Brad Halverson CFO and group president of corporate services. He succeeds Ed Rapp, who will become Caterpillar's group president of construction industries. Halverson, 52, pictured at right, most recently served as vice president with responsibility for Caterpillar's finance services division. He was appointed corporate controller in 2004 and business resource manager for Caterpillar's engine division in 1998. Earlier, he was a strategy and planning consultant in Switzerland for Caterpillar Overseas and served as controller in Europe. Halverson joined Caterpillar in 1988 as an accountant after starting his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Zurich North America, the $4.3 billion insurance provider, named Dalynn Hoch CFO. She replaces Vibhu Sharma, who has been appointed group controller at Zurich's headquarters in Switzerland. Hoch has been on an international assignment involving finance transformation projects worldwide since 2011. Earlier, she headed the finance planning and performance management team for the North American Commercial unit and also served as a member of the Zurich North America finance leadership team. Hoch joined Zurich in 2009 after serving as a partner at KPMG for 15 years.

Phoenix Cos., a $1.8 billion life insurance and annuity company, appointed Bonnie Malley CFO. She succeeds Peter Hofman, who will become the company's executive vice president of strategy and business development. Malley, 51, pictured at left, most recently served as executive vice president and chief administrative officer at the Hartford, Conn.-based company. Since joining Phoenix in 1985, Malley has held senior accounting and finance roles including chief accounting officer.

Rayonier, a $1.4 billion Jacksonville, Fla.-based forest products company, named H. Edwin Kiker vice president of investor relations. He succeeds Carl Kraus, who is retiring. Kiker most recently served as controller of real estate. Prior to joining Rayonier in 2002, he held audit positions at Great Lakes Chemical and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

First Niagara Financial Group, a $1.3 billion financial services provider, promoted Jeffrey Maddigan to treasurer. He replaces Michael Harrington, who left the Buffalo, N.Y.-based company to become treasurer and executive vice president at Susquehanna Bancshares.  Maddigan, 41, previously was First Niagara's senior director of balance sheet strategy. He has also served in other finance roles for the company, including asset-liability management, budgeting and forecasting, and profitability analysis.

Thoratec Corp., a $422 million provider of mechanical circulatory support to treat heart disease, named Taylor Harris CFO and vice president. He replaces interim CFO Roxanne Oulman, who will resume her role as vice president of finance at the Pleasanton, Calif., company. Taylor, 36, most recently served as Thoratec's senior director of investor relations and business development.  Earlier, he spent 10 years at J.P Morgan Chase & Co. in positions including vice president of healthcare investment banking and equity research.