BREAIFAST BRIEFING // CHICAGO

Sears CFO quits, joins Monsanto Sears, Roebuck and Co. said Chief Financial Officer Gary Crittendenhas resigned. He will replace Robert Hoffman as chief financialofficer at Monsanto Co., effective Sept. 1. Hoffman, 61, plans toretire after the completion of Monsanto's merger with American HomeProducts. Before working at Sears, Crittenden, 45, held executivepositions at retailers Melville Corp. and Filene's Basement Corp. Allstate plans stock buyback Allstate Corp. said it plans to repurchase up to $2 billion of itsown shares by the end of 2000. The Northbrook-based insurancecompany said the new buyback program will follow a $2 billion stockrepurchase program that was completed …