• Verizon Communications Inc. announced that senior vice president and treasurer Tom Bartlett was named controller, succeeding Dave Benson, who last month announced his intention to retire. Senior vice president of investor relations Cathie Webster was named treasurer, replacing Bartlett. Ron Lataille, vice president of financial planning and analysis for Verizon’s domestic telecom business unit, was promoted to senior vice president of investor relations, replacing Webster.
The company also named John Killian, who had been senior vice president and CFO of Verizon’s Domestic Telecom business, as president-elect of the new business unit that will encompass MCI Inc. and Verizon’s Enterprise Solutions Group. Fran Shammo, currently president of the West area for Verizon Wireless, has been named senior vice president and CFO of the new unit. At Domestic Telecom, vice president of corporate finance Bob Barish was named senior vice president and CFO, replacing Killian. Executive director of financial planning and analysis Larry Fulton succeeds Barish as vice president of finance.
• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. named Wan Ling Martello senior vice president and chief financial officer for its international operations, effective November 14. Martello joins the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant from NCH Marketing Services Inc., where she was president of its U.S. division; she also served as the finance chief of NCH from 1998 to 1999. Earlier in her career, she was corporate controller for Borden Foods when it was owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
• Jim Edris is retiring as vice president of investor relations of The Hershey Co. Vice president of business development Bryon Klemens will head treasury and investor relations; he will take over investor relations in early 2006 as the company searches for Edris’s successor, and he will continue to have responsibility for identifying merger and acquisition opportunities.
In addition, assistant treasurer and director of cash management Rosa Stroh was named vice president and treasurer, reporting to Klemens. Stroh, who has been in the treasury function at Hershey for 23 years, succeeds vice president of global sourcing and treasurer Robert J. Mazzoni Jr., who is retiring at the end of the year.
• Gary Sphar was appointed to the new position of executive vice president and chief financial officer of Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., the generics subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Mylan Laboratories Inc. Sphar, who joined Mylan in 1992, most recently was vice president and corporate controller of Mylan Laboratories and vice president of finance of Mylan Pharmaceuticals.
In addition, Mylan Pharmaceuticals appointed vice president of generic business development John Deiriggi to the new position of chief operating officer. He will be succeeded by Daniel Caron, who joined Mylan Technologies Inc. as chief financial officer in 2001 and was promoted to executive director of corporate administration for Mylan Laboratories the following year. Earlier in his career he served as executive vice president of finance and CFO of Copley Pharmaceuticals.
• Morton’s Restaurant Group Inc. chairman and chief executive officer Allen J. Bernstein is stepping down December 31 and was named chairman emeritus. Executive vice president and chief financial officer Thomas J. Baldwin will succeed Bernstein as CEO. Baldwin joined the New Hyde Park, New York-based company in 1988. Previously, he was a vice president for strategic planning at Citigroup and a business development manager for General Foods.
• PerkinElmer Inc. appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer Robert F. Friel to the position of vice chairman. Friel, who has been CFO since 1999, will also join the board of directors. To succeed him, the Boston-based biotech named Jeffery D. Capello as senior vice president and CFO. Both appointments are effective January 1.
• Priceline.com Inc. promoted vice president and chief compliance officer Daniel J. Finnegan to senior vice president, chief accounting officer, and controller, effective December 15. He will report to chief financial officer Robert Mylod. Before joining the Norwalk, Connecticut-based online travel company. Finnegan held CFO positions at CS Technology Inc. and Coty U.S. Inc. He succeeds Thomas D’Angelo, who is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
• John R. Sult joined energy company El Paso Corp. as senior vice president, controller, and chief accounting officer, reporting to chief financial officer D. Mark Leland. Most recently, Sult was vice president and controller of Halliburton Energy Services.
• Gregg Appliances Inc. tapped Don Van der Wiel as chief financial officer. He succeeds Michael D. Stout, who was promoted to chief administrative officer. Before joining the Indianapolis-based home entertainment appliance maker, Van der Wiel worked for restaurant chain Buffets Holdings Inc. since 2001, most recently as vice president of finance. Earlier, he was controller of retailer Things Remembered Inc.
• Dallas-based Peerless Manufacturing Co. named Henry G. Schopfer chief financial officer. Most recently, Schopfer was the CFO of telecommunications provider for T-Netix Inc., and previously, CFO of Wireless One Inc.