Southwest Airlines, the $15.6 billionDallas-based air carrier, named Tammy Romo CFO andsenior vice president of finance. She succeeds LauraWright, who is retiring after eight years as CFO and 25years with the company. Romo, 50, is currently Southwest's seniorvice president of planning. She has also served as director ofinvestor relations, treasurer and controller. Before joiningSouthwest in 1991, Romo worked as an audit manager at Coopers &Lybrand.

The Hartford Financial ServicesGroup, the $21.8 billion Hartford, Conn.-based insuranceand wealth management services provider, appointed RobertBateman controller and senior vice president. He succeedsBeth Bombara, who was promoted to president ofthe company's life runoff unit. Bateman, 45, most recently was CFOof the Hartford's commercial markets division. Since joining thecompany in 2004, he served in various positions, including CFO ofclaims. Bateman previously was a senior manager and vice presidentof internal audit at Kaman Corp.

Ralph Lauren, the $6.8 billion New York-basedapparel company, named Christopher Peterson CFOand senior vice president. He succeeds TraceyTravis, who left in July to become CFO at Estee Lauder.Peterson, 46, joins the company from Procter & Gamble, where hemost recently served as CFO of the global household care unit. Hehas also worked in investment banking at Smith Barney.