DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. has promoted Ann Daly to president and hired a former Walt Disney Co. executive as chief operating officer, the company announced Monday. Mark Zoradi joins the Glendale animation studio after having served in the home entertainment and broadcasting divisions at Disney, in Burbank. He replaces Daly, who had been COO Since 2004. Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg said the promotion of Daly and hiring of Zoradi brings to DreamWorks Animation a management structure to serve the changing needs of the company. Over the past 18 months, the studio has diversified its business strategy by expanding into television, publishing and location-based and retail entertainment. Shares closed down 31 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $22.94 on Nasdaq. Telecommunications component manufacturer MRV Communications Inc. expanded its board of directors with the addition of a former Verizon Communications executive. Jeannie H. Diefenderfer was appointed to the board of the Chatsworth company effective July 24. Diefenderfer is the former chief procurement officer for Verizon where she managed a $10 billion annual purchasing program. She also served as senior vice president of global engineering and planning responsible for expanding Verizon’s global backbone network across six continents. MRV Chairman Ken Traub said he looked forward to the contributions and insights Diefenderfer will bring to the company. “We are confident Jeannie’s extensive experience and domain expertise will be invaluable as we refine and execute our strategies for building shareholder value,” Traub said in a prepared statement. Ryland Group Inc. announced Monday the opening of Ashford Crossing, a development of 87 homes northeast of Atlanta. The development has floor plans from 2,453 to 3,804 square feet, and prices from $290,000 to the low $400,000s. It is located in Sugar Hill, near Lake Lanier, a reservoir and recreation area with boating, fishing and jet skiing. The homes at Ashford Crossing feature wood flooring, 9-foot ceilings, granite countertops and stainless steel kitchen appliances. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Ryland operates in 17 states and has built more than 300,000 homes in nearly 300 communities.