Staff and wire reports

Jager joins Chiquita board

Durk I. Jager has joined the board of directors of Chiquita Brands International Inc., the banana company said Wednesday.

"Durk adds a wealth of innovative consumer-product expertise to our board," Chiquita CEO Cyrus Friedheim said in a statement.

Mr. Jager was forced to retire as CEO and chairman of Procter & Gamble Co. in July 2000 after a reorganization caused the company to report lower-than-expected earnings two quarters in a row.

Cincinnati Bell cutting 51 jobs

Cincinnati Bell is eliminating 51 jobs, just under 2 percent of its 2,900-employee work force, as part of parent Broadwing Inc.'s restructuring effort.

The company gave the Communications Workers of America, which represents hourly outside technicians and inside support staff, notice Wednesday of plans to eliminate 28 jobs in 60 days. .

The company will also cut 23 non-union jobs as part of an effort to improve efficiency and eliminate duplication, a spokeswoman said. All the affected workers will be offered severance and help in finding new jobs.

P&G names eBay CEO as director

Cincinnati's Procter & Gamble Co. named eBay Chief Executive Margaret C. Whitman as a director, effective Jan. 1, as it expands use of the Internet.

Ms. Whitman started at Procter & Gamble as a marketer, Procter & Gamble said, and worked at Walt Disney Co. and Hasbro Inc. before joining eBay.