Richard M. Bearup has been appointed Planned Parenthood of Northern New York's chief executive officer.

Mr. Bearup, the agency's former chief financial officer, assumed his new role Fridaywhen the former executive director, Ruth-Ellen Blodgett, left the Watertown agency to work for Planned Parenthood of Mid-Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie.

Mrs. Blodgett will become the Mid-Hudson Valley agency's vice president of business development. She was with the Northern New York chapter for four years.

Theresa S. "Tess" Barker, spokeswoman for the Northern New York Planned Parenthood office, said Mr. Bearup will take over as CEO until the agency merges with Northern Adirondack Planned Parenthood to become Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York Inc. by spring.

Mr. Bearup has been with Planned Parenthood of Northern New York for nearly eight years, Mrs. Barker said. The agency's board of directors appointed him CEO two weeks ago, but he didn't assume that position until late last week.

Mr. Bearup had previously been interim executive director when former executive director JoAnn M. Dager left the agency in June 2004.

Douglas J. Marlow, business coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Northern New York, became the new director of finance.

"We've just sort of gone from business coordinator to director of finance, and he'll assume a lot of financial duties that Rick had as CFO," Mrs. Barker said. "Then Rick will take on more of the planning, advocacy and general agency operations."

The administrative change will not affect the merger, Mrs. Barker said.

The organizational structure for the merged affiliate will have a president and CEO, and a chief operating officer. Mr. Bearup will probably assume the COO role once the merger is complete, Mrs. Barker said.