The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Placeman \Place"man\, n.; pl. Placemen.
   One who holds or occupies a place; one who has office under
   government. --Sir W. Scott.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

placeman
    n 1: a disparaging term for an appointee [syn: placeman,
         placeseeker]