NATION

Robert D. Krebs has been named chairman of Santa Fe Southern Pacific Corp., Chicago, succeeding John S. Reed, who is retiring. Krebs will continue as president and chief executive.

Hachette SA has appointed Eric Laffont as president and chief operating officer of Grolier Inc., a New York publisher and marketer of encyclopedias, children’s books and educational materials. Laffont succeeds Andrew J. Reinhart, who will retire as president and chief operating officer. Robert B. Clark will remain chairman and chief executive of Grolier, which agreed in April to be acquired by Hachette, an international publisher based in Paris. Laffont previously was director of management control, budget and planning for Hachette.