Also . . .

* New Century Financial Corp. in Irvine appointed Patrick H. Rank as president of retail operations for its primary subsidiary, New Century Mortgage Corp. Rank had been president of H&R; Block Mortgage. In addition, Nicolette Allen was appointed senior vice president and general manager of New Century’s Anyloan Co. subsidiary. Allen had been vice president and general manager of the Alliance One division of Option One Mortgage.

* Atairgin Technologies Inc. in Irvine appointed Debra K. Liebert as vice president of corporate development. She had been vice president of corporate development at Lion Bioscience Inc.

* Taylor Woodrow Homes Inc. named Robert C. Liewer vice president, land acquisition. He joined the company in 1996 as vice president, development.

* FCB Southern California in Irvine promoted Debbie Zimmerman to executive vice president. She will continue to lead the advertising agency’s Hilton Hotels Corp. account. Zimmerman was most recently senior vice president, group account director.

* Neal Ruby was elected president of the McDonald’s Operator’s Assn. of Southern California board of directors. Ruby’s family owns seven restaurants in Costa Mesa, Westminster and San Pedro.

* Jake J. Ragusa has been named vice president of marketing/development for Koll Development Co. in Newport Beach. He was formerly regional director of Insignia ESG in Dallas.