TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

IBM Names Boston Chicken Exec to Head Strategy: International Business Machines Corp. named Bruce Harreld, president of Boston Chicken Inc., its senior vice president of strategy. Harreld, 44, succeeds Jim Cannavino, who left IBM earlier this year after nearly 30 years with the company. Harreld will report to Chairman Louis V. Gerstner Jr. He spent six years at Kraft General Foods Inc. and seven years at Boston Consulting Group, moving to Boston Chicken in 1993. His broad background is seen as a plus to help Gerstner steer IBM, analysts said. The appointment comes as the Armonk, N.Y.-based computer maker has been in transition after the departures of several top executives.