By Cliff Peale
Enquirer staff writer

Fernando Aguirre continues to shape his top team at Chiquita Brands International Inc.

Aguirre, Chiquita's chairman and chief executive officer who came to the company in January, named John Braukman chief financial officer.

Aguirre also promoted another long-time executive, and two other executives announced they are leaving.

Braukman, 50, started working at Chiquita this week. He replaces Jim Riley, who will remain through August.

Braukman worked for 25 years at various operating units of General Electric Co., the last two as CFO of the Information Technology Solutions group that had operations here. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, he left GE in 2000 and has held senior finance positions at several telecommunications companies since then.

Chiquita also said:

• Jill Albrinck, senior vice president in charge of Chiquita's new fresh-cut fruit business, is leaving the company. Albrinck joined Chiquita in 2002 as part of the team assembled by former chairman Cyrus Freidheim. They had worked together at consulting giant Booz Allen Hamilton. Aguirre will run that business on an interim basis, Chiquita said.

• Chris Augustijns, hired in July from Coca-Cola Co. to head Chiquita's Asian operations, said he would return to Coke.

• Chiquita veteran Manuel Rodriguez was promoted to senior vice president of government and international affairs. He becomes a member of the management committee that reports directly to Aguirre.

E-mail cpeale@enquirer.com