CFO Moves – week ending August 21, 2020

CFO Moves this week include:

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Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. [ESTERO, FL] (NYSE: HTZ) announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jamere Jackson, has resigned to pursue a new opportunity. Mr. Jackson will remain with Hertz until September 11, 2020, to assist in the transition of his responsibilities. The Company also announced the promotion of R. Eric Esper to Executive Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer. Esper has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Hertz since November 2018. He previously served as Vice President and Controller of the Company beginning March 2018. From July 2010 to March 2018, Esper held a variety of financial leadership roles with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., most recently as Vice President, Brand Finance & Strategy, and Vice President and Controller. Prior to that, Esper was with PricewaterhouseCooper, LLC.

Tie Kim

Benetech [PALO ALTO, CA] announced the appointment of Tie Kim, to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Tie brings expertise from a career spanning over 25 years in venture capital, start-ups and financial management. Fifteen of those years were with Omidyar Network. Tie also held various managerial positions at Informatica in business development, investor relations, worldwide operations and finance.

Weyerhaeuser Company [SEATTLE] (NYSE: WY) announced that Russell Hagen, currently senior vice president and chief financial officer, will become senior vice president and chief development officer. Hagen will transition to his new role once his successor is identified.

FLEETCOR Technologies, Inc. [ATLANTA] (NYSE: FLT) announced that Charles Freund – executive vice president for strategy – has been named chief financial officer effective September 1, 2020. After 18 years with the Company, Eric Dey, the Company’s current chief financial officer, will retire but will remain on as a senior advisor at the Company through the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. Freund joined FLEETCOR in 2000 as director of business development and was most recently executive vice president for strategy. During his tenure with the Company, Freund has also served as executive vice president of global sales, president of developing markets, and vice president of UK card issuing. Prior to joining FLEETCOR, Freund was a consultant at Sibson Consulting, a member of The Segal Group.

Mike Diamond

The Michaels Companies, Inc. [IRVING, Texas] (NASDAQ: MIK) announced that Michael Diamond has been appointed Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer, effective September 1, 2020. Most recently, Diamond served as Chief Financial Officer for Pizza Hut U.S. market. His background includes several leadership positions including Chief Financial Officer for Pizza Hut’s European market, Chief Growth Officer for Pizza Hut’s European and United Kingdom business and Director of Strategy for Pizza Hut International. Prior to joining Pizza Hut, Diamond served in roles at The Boston Consulting Group, Svoboda Capital Partners and Merrill Lynch & Co.

Nortech Systems Incorporated [MINNEAPOLIS] (NASDAQ: NSYS) announced that Connie Beck has tendered her resignation as Chief Financial Officer of the company effective August 28, 2020. In the interim, the company’s Corporate Controller, Alan Nordstrom, will serve also as the acting CFO.

STRATIS [PHILADELPHIA] announced that Liyan Shen has joined as the Chief Financial Officer.

Rob Ferrentino

iGPS Logistics [ORLANDO, FL] announced the appointment of Rob Ferrentino as Chief Financial Officer. Most recently he served as CFO at Q1, LLC. Ferrentino also spent eight years at American Road Group (ARG), serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer before assuming the role of President in 2016.

Liquidia Technologies, Inc. [RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC] (NASDAQ: LQDA) announced Steven Bariahtaris has been appointed interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He succeeds Richard Katz who has resigned from his role at Liquidia in order to pursue other opportunities. Prior to Liquidia, he spent nearly 24 years at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) serving in several executive roles with increasing responsibility. Most recently, Mr. Bariahtaris served as J&J’s Worldwide Vice President, Corporate Internal Audit, where he acted as the Chief Audit Executive. Mr. Bariahtaris served in several additional J&J leadership roles including CFO & Vice President of Finance for Janssen Americas where he provided financial leadership for the pharmaceuticals business and Vice President, Worldwide Finance and CFO for Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. Bariahtaris began his career with Proctor and Gamble (P&G) working initially in supply chain management roles before his transition to Corporate Finance.

Noodles & Company [BROOMFIELD, CO] (NASDAQ: NDLS) announced the resignation of Chief Financial Officer, Ken Kuick, to pursue other business interests.

Kenneth S. Cragun

DPW Holdings, Inc. [NEWPORT BEACH, CA] (NYSE American: DPW) announced that William B. Horne, who has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed as President and that Kenneth S. Cragun, who has served as Company’s Chief Accounting Officer, has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer. Cragun joined the Company as Chief Accounting Officer in October 2018. Cragun is the Chief Financial Officer for Alzamend Neuro, Inc., a biotech company, on a part-time basis beginning in December 15, 2018. He served as a CFO Partner at Hardesty, LLC, a national executive services firm since October 2016. His assignments at Hardesty included serving as CFO of CorVel Corporation, and as CFO of RISA Tech, Inc. Cragun was also CFO of Local Corporation, from April 2009 to September 2016, and Modtech Holdings, Inc., from June 2006 to March 2009. Prior thereto, he had financial leadership roles with increasing responsibilities at MIVA, Inc., ImproveNet, Inc., NetCharge Inc., C-Cube Microsystems, Inc, and 3-Com Corporation. Cragun serves on the board of directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Verb Technology Company, Inc.

Exchange Bank [SANTA ROSA, CA] (OTC: EXSR) announced the retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Greg Jahn as of December 31, 2020. Jahn’s post will be filled by Shari DeMaris who will join Exchange Bank as the new executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Battalion Oil Corporation [HOUSTON] (NYSEA: BATL) announced the appointment of Kevin Andrews as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, replacing Ragan Altizer, who plans to retire from the oil and gas industry. Andrews most recently served as Managing Director and Head of Energy Investment Banking at Imperial Capital, and previously at Wunderlich Securities, Pritchard Capital Partners and Morgan Keegan.  Prior to his career in investment banking, Andrews was CFO of Denali Incorporated and Financial Manager at both Moorco International and Envirotech, a Baker Hughes subsidiary.  Andrews began his career at Coopers & Lybrand.

Nathan Winters

Zebra Technologies Corporation [LINCOLNSHIRE, IL] (NASDAQ: ZBRA) announced that Nathan Winters has been named acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective Aug. 28, 2020. Olivier Leonetti, the current CFO, will depart effective Aug. 28, 2020 to take on a new role outside the company. Winters has been the company’s Vice President of Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis and Business Operations since 2018. Prior to Zebra, Winters served in financial roles for GE for more than 16 years where he held multiple CFO positions, most recently serving as CFO of GE Healthcare Global Supply Chain.

SPAR Group, Inc. [WHITE PLAINS, NY] (NASDAQ: SGRP) announced that Fay DeVriese will join the company as chief financial officer (CFO). DeVriese will succeed Jim Segreto, who is retiring following a successful 23-year career at SPAR Group.  Most recently DeVriese served as Chief Financial Officer at Letica Corporation and has served in financial leadership roles at DSM Engineering Plastics, Eaton Corporation, Continental Automotive Systems and Motorola.

Tempo Automation [SAN FRANCISCO] announced that Ryan Benton has joined the management team as its Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, Benton served as CFO and Executive Board Member of Revasum, Inc. Previously, Benton’s experience also includes a five-year tenure at Exar Corporation, where he served as CFO, before becoming CEO and Executive Board Member. Benton also currently serves as an independent board member and chairs the Audit Committees for both Pivotal Systems (ASX: PVS) and Ace Convergence Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: ACEVU).

FranConnect [HERNDON, VA] announced the appointment of Andrew Volkmann as its Chief Financial Officer. Volkmann’s experience includes serving as CFO of MinuteKEY. Earlier in his career, Volkmann was a founding management team member and vice president of finance and administration at Tellme Networks, Inc., which in 2007 was acquired by Microsoft. Volkmann also held several roles in finance at Netscape Communications Corporation and served as the brand’s senior director of finance leading up to Netscape’s acquisition by AOL in 1999.

Goldie Gupta

Ovation Fertility [LOS ANGELES] hired Goldie Gupta as chief financial officer. Gupta joined Ovation after serving as chief financial officer of Nashville-based Marquee Dental Partners. Earlier in her career, she served as vice president – FP&A for R1-RCM Inc. She began her finance career in India, where she was a partner in a public accounting firm.

Kronos Bio, Inc. [SAN MATEO, CA & CAMBRIDGE, MA] announced the appointment of Yasir Al-Wakeel as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Development. Dr. Al-Wakeel began his career as a practicing physician, holding both clinical and academic medical posts in the United Kingdom before his roles in finance and early-stage biotechnology. Prior to Kronos, Al-Wakeel was Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at Neon Therapeutics. Prior to that, he was Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Development at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals. Before joining Merrimack, Al-Wakeel served in senior roles in equity research and corporate finance at Credit Suisse focused on the biotechnology sector.

Melissa Pursley

WolfePak Software [ABILIENE, TX] announced that Melissa Pursley has joined the company as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Pursley recently served as Vice President of Finance at Progyny. Before Progyny, Pursley held financial leadership roles at TravelClick, Dun & Bradstreet, and LexisNexis.

Alveo Technologies [ALAMEDA, CA] announced it has appointed Julianne Averill as Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Finance for BlackThorn Therapeutics. Averill has held leadership roles at Manifest MedEx and Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust. She also served as an audit manager at Deloitte.

Ben Murray

Mobile Solutions [CENTENNIAL, CO] welcomed Ben Murray as Chief Financial Officer.

Treehouse [SEATTLE] announce that Ahmed Bur has been named the Chief Financial Officer. Bur most recently served as the CEO and CFO at Red Wagon Village. Before that, he was the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at American College of Cardiology. He’s also worked for Sprint, Marriott International and HP in other finance roles.

Centinel Spine, LLC [WEST CHESTER, PA] announced Varun Gandhi as Chief Financial Officer. Gandhi succeeds Jeff Stello of Charlestown Capital Partners, who had served as interim CFO since late 2019. Gandhi was most recently Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and Strategic Planning and General Manager, International at Centinel Spine, and has been a member of the company’s senior leadership since 2014. Prior to joining Centinel Spine, Gandhi served as Vice President of Strategic Planning & Corporate Finance at Small Bone Innovations. He also had worked in Corporate Finance with Viscogliosi Brothers.

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [RESTON, VA] (NYSE: SAIC) announced the retirement of Chief Financial Officer Charles A. Mathis. Mathis will remain with the company through fiscal year 2021, ending January 29, 2021, to ensure a smooth transition. Mathis joined the company in November 2016 as executive vice president and CFO.

USA Technologies, Inc. [MALVERN, PA] (OTC: USAT) announced that R. Wayne Jackson has joined the company as chief financial officer. He joins USA Technologies after serving four years as the Chief Financial Officer of Secureworks Corp. Previously, Jackson was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (“PwC”). Prior to that, he was Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Concert Communications Services (“Concert”), a global joint venture created by AT&T Inc. and British Telecommunications plc. USAT’s Interim CFO, Eugene C. Cavanaugh will continue to work with the Company as a consultant and assist through the transition.

Coherent, Inc. [SANTA CLARA, CA] (NASDAQ: COHR) announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Palatnik will retire from the company no later than February 28, 2021.

Laura Coffey

The Vitamin Shoppe [SECAUCUS, NJ] announced it has appointed Laura Coffey as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. During a 23-year career at Pier 1 Imports, Inc. Coffey held a series of positions of increasing responsibility, including EVP, Interim CFO; EVP, E-Commerce and Business Development; EVP, Merchandise Planning and Allocations; and SVP, Finance, serving as the company’s principal accounting officer. Coffey currently serves as Audit Committee Chair of the Community National Bank & Trust of Texas.

Sanifit [PALMA, Spain & SAN DIEGO] announced the appointment of Adam Levy as Chief Financial Officer. Levy was most recently with Brickell Biotech where he served as Chief Business Officer. From 2016 to 2019, he was the Chief Business Officer at miRagen Therapeutics. Between 2000 and 2016, Mr. Levy held multiple investment banking positions at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Jefferies Group and Wedbush Securities.

Reali [SAN MATEO, CA] announced Michael Fu, Vice President of Finance, has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Reali, Michael was Vice President of Corporate FP&A at Reali’s sister company, Veev. Before Veev, Michael spent 5 years for a venture debt provider, 5 years for venture backed start-ups in China and 7 years in real estate investment banking.

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. [SAN DIEGO] (NASDAQ: FATE) announced that Edward Dulac has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. Dulac comes to the Company from Celgene Corporation, where he most recently served as Vice President, Business Development & Strategy. Prior to Celgene, Dulac worked as a biopharmaceutical equity research analyst at Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers and in corporate finance at Pfizer.

XRHealth [BOSTON] announced Deepa Javeri has been named Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining XRHealth, she served as the Chief Financial Officer at FRANK. Earlier in her career, Javeri spent fifteen years as a capital markets investor most recently at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Interlink Electronics, Inc. [IRVINE, CA] (OTC: LINK) announced that CEO Steven N. Bronson has assumed the role of acting CFO with the recent departure of former CFO Ray Li.