Gregory Macfarlane has been appointed to the top finance spot at H&R Block Inc. He succeeds Jeff Brown, who will become chief accounting and risk officer. Macfarlane is a former CFO of Ceridian Corp.

Retailer American Eagle Outfitters Inc. has announced that finance chief Joan Hilson is leaving the company. A search for her successor is under way; in the meantime, controller Scott Hurd will become interim principal financial officer and interim principal accounting officer. Hilson will work with the firm until the end of July to aid in the transition.

CFO William McCartney plans to retire from Watts Water Technologies Inc. The firm expects to have an agreement with McCartney whereby he will remain in his post until a replacement is named, and will stay on at the firm until the end of the year to aid in the transition. McCartney has been at the company since 1985 and was named CFO in 2000.

Semiconductor maker Ramtron International Corp. has appointed Gery Richards to lead the finance function. Richards, who has been interim CFO since October, joined the firm in 2004 and was appointed controller in 2008.

Rex Energy Corp. has named Michael Hodges to the top finance spot. He replaces Tom Stabley, who was named CEO in October and had held both posts. Hodges joins the company from SandRidge Energy Inc., where he was E&P controller.

Joseph Green is the new finance chief at student housing owner and operator The Preiss Co. Formerly, he was CEO of Cherokee Renewables LLC.

Extreme Networks Inc. has named John Kurtzweil to lead the finance function, effective June 29. He will take over from interim CFO Jim Judson, who will stay on as a consultant during the transition period. Most recently, Kurtzweil was CFO of Cree Inc.

Gregory Hunt has been appointed CFO and treasurer of Apollo Investment Corp. Previously, he headed finance at Yankee Candle.