CNO Financial Group, a $4.1 billion insurance holding company, named Frederick Crawford CFO and executive vice president. He succeeds Ed Bonach, who was promoted to CEO after James Prieur retired in October. Crawford, 48, joins Carmel, Ind.-based CNO from Lincoln Financial, where he was CFO for six years and most recently served as executive vice president of corporate development and investments. Previously, he was president of Bank One's operations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

M.D.C. Holdings, the $958 million Denver-based homebuilder, appointed John Stephens CFO, principal accounting officer and senior vice president. He replaces Vilia Valentine, who left to become CFO at Inspirato. Stephens, 43, joins M.D.C. from homebuilder Standard Pacific Corp., where he was CFO since 2009. Earlier, he served as the company's corporate controller and treasurer and worked in public accounting for five years at Arthur Andersen.

Mercury Computer Systems, a $228 million provider of real-time digital signal processing, named Kevin Bisson CFO, treasurer and senior vice president. He succeeds Robert Hult, who retired. Bisson, 50, joins Chelmsford, Mass.-based Mercury from SeaChange International, where he was also CFO, treasurer and senior vice president. Earlier, he worked for a number of other technology companies, including American Superconductor, Axcelis Technologies and United Technologies.