News Corp., the $34 billion media company based in New York, appointed Bedi Ajay Singh CFO of the publishing division, which is to be split off into a separate public company from the media and entertainment company, which will go by a new name, Fox Group.  Singh, 52, most recently served as CFO and president of finance and administration at MGM Studios. Earlier he was CFO at Gemstar-TV Guide, Novartis Pharmaceuticals and SONY Pictures. He has also held previous finance positions at News Corp.  He started his career at Arthur Andersen in London.

National Oilwell Varco, a $14.6 billion provider of mechanical equipment for the oil and gas industry, appointed Jeremy Thigpen CFO and senior vice president. He succeeds Clay Williams, who was named president and COO. Thigpen has worked for the Houston-based company for 15 years, most recently serving as president of Downhole Pumping and Solutions. Previously he was president of the Downhole Tools group.

Brunswick Corp., which makes boats and other recreation equipment and had $3.7 billion in 2011 revenue, named William Metzger CFO. He succeeds Peter Hamilton, who is retiring in February. Metzger, 51, pictured at left, recently served as treasurer and vice president of the company.  He joined Brunswick as an accounting manager in 1987 and was named director of corporate accounting in 1996 and treasurer in 2001. Before joining the Lake Forest Ill.-based company, Metzger spent four years at Arthur Andersen.