Names in the news.

• Position: Appointed news

FEI Members: You are invited to contribute news about career moves and changes. Email Executive Editor Ellen M. Heffes, eheffes@financialexecutives.org.

* A. Merrill Ayers (Twin Cities Chapter) was named Senior Vice President and CFO of Genesis Employee Benefits in Minneapolis. Genesis specializes in the customized administration of healthcare savings and reimbursement plans for public- and private-sector employer groups. Ayers is also a Board Director and Member of the Audit Committee of Inside Edge in Minneapolis.

* Nancy L. Bland (Edmonton Chapter) was promoted to CFO for Rentcash Inc. in Edmonton. Rentcash operates 421 stores that offer payday cash advances and rental brand-name furniture, appliances and electronics.

* Steve Bower, FCA (Ottawa Chapter), was appointed CFO of The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund. The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund owns a portfolio of 1.4 million installed water heaters and other assets, leased primarily to residential customers in Ontario.

Nelson Chai was hired by Merrill Lynch & Co. as CFO. Chai worked in the same position at NYSE Euronext under incoming Merrill CEO John Thain. Mer-rill Lynch is a global financial management and advisory company.

Dirkson Charles was named Executive Vice President and CFO of McKechnie Aerospace in Placentia, Calif. McKechnie is comprised of companies that provide design, manufacture and logistic support for components, systems and assemblies for the aerospace industry.

* Chuck Croft (Milwaukee Chapter) was promoted to Executive Vice President of Kalmbach Publishing Co. in Waukesha, Wis. Kalmbach publishes hobby and leisure-time magazines, books and other products.

* I.D. Flores Third (Dallas Chapter) was elected to the Board of Directors of SWS Group Inc. Flores is Co-Founder and Partner of the private equity firm Ceres Capital Partners in Dallas. He also serves as a Director of the Harvard Club of Dallas and the National Schools & Admissions Committee of Harvard University.

* Tim A. Fuerth...