Local real estate investment and development firm Alexander & Baldwin Inc. has found a temporary chief financial officer to take the place of James Mead, who decided last month to resign.

A&B said it has hired Diana Laing, the former CFO of American Homes 4 Rent, to be interim CFO for up to nine months. Laing, 63, will earn $50,000 a month plus certain travel and accommodation expenses. She will start work Oct. 10 as interim executive vice president of finance and then become interim CFO when Mead’s resignation is expected to become effective Nov. 15.