The CFP Board of Standards, in Washington, D.C., hired Tom Crowder as managing director for marketing and business development. Previously, he was a vice president of marketing at Verizon.

Fidelity Investments, based in Boston, promoted Abigail Johnson to chairman of the board of directors overseeing fixed-income and asset allocation funds, prompting speculation that the financial services firm eventually intends to name the younger Johnson successor to her father, Edward C. "Ned" Johnson III, 78, as head of the company. The 47-year-old Johnson runs Fidelity's personal and workplace investing unit and is vice chairman of Fidelity Management and Research. Mr. Johnson remains chairman of Fidelity's equity and high-yield funds.

Susan M. John, president of Financial Focus, a fee-only firm in Wolfeboro, N.H., was elected chair of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors for the organization's 2010-2011 term.

Ted T. Cecala chairman and chief executive officer of Wilmington Trust Corp., in Wilmington, Del., retired after 31 years with the company. The board subsequently elected director Donald E. Foley, current chairman of its audit committee, as the new CEO.