Ace Hardware, the $3.7 billion Oak Brook,Ill.-based hardware cooperative, named WilliamGuzik CFO. He succeeds DorvinLively, who left last August to become CFO of RadioShack.Guzik, 52, served as CFO and executive vice president at MidasInternational for 13 years. He previously worked atPricewaterhouseCoopers, JG Industries and Delray Farms.

Weight Watchers, the $1.8 billion NewYork-based weight loss company, appointed NicholasHotchkin CFO. He succeeds Ann Sardini,who retired in March. Hotchkin, 46, joins Weight Watchers fromStaples, where he most recently served as senior vice president offinance for the U.S. retail division. Earlier, Hotchkin wasStaples' senior vice president of finance and treasurer, and workedin finance at Delphi Corp and General Motors.

State Auto Insurance Companies, a $1.5 billionColumbus, Ohio-based insurer, named Cynthia Powellchief risk officer, a new position for the company. She currentlyserves as treasurer and chief accounting officer. Powell, 51,joined State Auto in 1990 after working for three years as acertified public accountant.

Federal Realty Investment Trust, a $553 millionRockville, Md.-based real estate company, named JamesTaylor CFO. He succeeds Andrew Blocher,who is leaving early next year. Taylor, 45, joins Federal Realtyfrom Eastdil Secured Wels Fargo, where he was senior managingdirector. He served in similar roles at its predecessors, WachoviaSecurities and First Union Securities. Taylor practiced corporateand securities law and worked as a senior accountant prior tobecoming an investment banker.

Atlantic Power Corporation, a $284 millionBoston-based utility, named Terrance Ronan CFO andexecutive vice president. He succeeds LisaDonahue, who has served as interim CFO since July 2011.Ronan previously worked as managing director of finance andassistant treasurer at Plains All American Pipeline, and prior tothat, was president and CEO of SemGroup. He co-founded the startupenergy finance practice at Merrill Lynch Capital.

Union First Market Bankshares, a $232 millionRichmond, Va.-based holding company for Union First Market Bank,named Robert Gorman CFO and executive vicepresident. He succeeds Tony Peay, who will becomechief banking officer. Gorman, 54, most recently was a senior vicepresident at SunTrust Banks, where he worked since 2002. Prior tojoining SunTrust, he served as CFO of FleetBoston Financial'stechnology and operations group. He began his career at ArthurAndersen.