[RickM]

I agree with leveraging the two most powerful tools (no pun intended) at your disposal, HR and better yet, the promotion boss. If promotion boss understands the bottom line he/she may enlist heavy hitter to insist it go through before there's time for current boss to counter.

The company has to look at it this way, completely lose a good employee worthy of a promotion or utilize the good employee where he is happy and productive.