Los Angeles-based Abraxis Bioscience Inc. said Friday that its board has appointed a chief administrative officer and an interim chief financial officer, the later person to replace an executive who is retiring.

The board named Ronald E. Pauli as interim chief financial officer to replace Nicole Williams, who is retiring effective May 31. Pauli, 45, has been the company’s corporate controller since 2002, and prior to that was controller and chief financial officer of ERSCO Corp.

The board also appointed Richard E. Maroun as chief administrative officer. Since August 2004, Maroun, 51, has served as the general counsel and vice president of corporate development of American BioScience, Inc. (Abraxis’ former parent company). Prior to joining American BioScience, Maroun was a director at Merrill Lynch in its advisory services business unit for four years.