CFO Moves – week ending December 14, 2012

CFO Moves this week include:

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Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) announced that it has named Kevin Moriarty as Avnet Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As announced in April, Avnet’s current Chief Financial Officer Ray Sadowski will be retiring from his position after 20 years as CFO. Moriarty comes from Honeywell where joined them in 2002 as controller for the Automation and Control Solutions Division and led their internal audit team following his promotion in 2004 to vice president of Finance overseeing Corporate Audit. Prior to joining Honeywell, Moriarty was with Bristol-Myers Squibb and also spent more than 12 years in public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was an audit partner.

FIS™ (NYSE: FIS) announced that Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Michael Hayford, has informed the company of his plan to retire in 2013. Mr. Hayford has served as FIS’ chief financial officer since Oct. 2009.

Smack Sportswear (OTC: SMAK) announced it has hired Charles A. Lesser, former CFO of True Religion Apparel (TRLG), as the Company’s new CFO. Prior to True Religion, Lesser was an Officer at various private and public companies including Weider Sporting Goods.

PACCAR (NASDAQ: PCAR) elected Robert J. Christensen to the position of PACCAR chief financial officer and executive vice president. Mr. Christensen’s most recent responsibility was as executive vice president. He joined PACCAR in 1983 and has had senior management roles with PACCAR Parts, Kenworth and Peterbilt.

Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) announced that Wendy Earp has been promoted to senior vice president, secretary, treasurer and CFO. She joined MEMA as its controller in May 2001. Prior to joining MEMA, Earp spent 11 years at the Raleigh, N.C., office of a top-tier public accounting firm.

Vonage Holdings Corp.(NYSE: VG) announced that Barry Rowan, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, has decided to leave the Company to pursue another opportunity.  Mr. Rowan will step down from his positions effective upon the Company’s filing of its 2012 Form 10-K in February 2013, and will assist in ensuring a smooth transition of his responsibilities.

Cool Planet Energy Systems announced that Barry L. Rowan will be joining the company in the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Cool Planet, Mr. Rowan served as EVP, CFO and Chief Administrative Officer for Vonage Corporation, a $900 million Internet communications company Mr. Rowan will step down from his position at Vonage effective upon the Company’s filing of its 2012 Form 10-K in February 2013, and will begin his role as CFO of Cool Planet on February 15, 2013. Previously Mr. Rowan served as EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer with Nextel Partners.

Relypsa, Inc. announced the appointment of Kristine M. Ball to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, Ms. Ball was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KAI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to KAI, Ms. Ball served as Vice President of Finance at Exelixis, Inc.. Prior to Exelixis, Ms. Ball was a senior manager in Ernst & Young’s life sciences audit practice.

SolidFire announced the appointment of John Hillyard to Chief Financial Officer. He has a strong track record in high growth companies serving as CFO of DataLogix Inc., CFO of LeftHand Networks and CFO of FrontRange Solutions.

Seattle Opera announced the appointment of Richard Johnson as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Before joining Seattle Opera, Johnson was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, NV. Prior to his engagement with The Smith Center, Johnson was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Washington National Opera in Washington, DC. He also served for two years as Chief Financial Officer of the Boston Ballet. He was Vice President of Finance and Administration at the Orange County Performing Arts Center from its opening in 1986 through 2003. Johnson is also the co-founder and Chair of CFO/Arts.

WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE:WMS) announced that stockholders elected Matthew Paull as Member of the Board of Directors. Paul is former Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of McDonald’s Corporation.

BSD Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: BSDM) announced the appointment of William S. (Bill) Barth as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Barth will assume the duties upon the departure of Dennis Gauger, current Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Since May 2011, Bill has served as an independent corporate financial and strategic planning consultant. From June 2008 to May 2011, he served as Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Emphusion, LLC. From January 2001 through April 2008 Bill was VP of Finance and CFO for NWT Inc. /Tandem Labs (Tandem). During the 20 years prior to his experience with Tandem, Bill served as CFO for 6 medical device companies.

Commtouch® (NASDAQ: CTCH) announced that Brian D. Briggs will replace outgoing CFO Ron Ela as of January 1, 2013. Briggs will join Commtouch after serving as executive vice president and CFO at SecureNet Payment Systems. Prior to his post at SecureNet, Briggs served in various management roles at Custom Direct , Ashton-Potter, Ithaca Bancorp (now M&T Bank), and Ernst & Young.

Exar Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAR) announced that Ryan A. Benton joined the Company as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Benton replaces Kevin S. Bauer who has served as the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since June 23, 2009. Mr. Benton most recently served as Chief Financial Officer of SynapSense Corporation.  Prior to SynapSense Mr. Benton was Chief Financial Officer of SoloPower, Inc.  Mr. Benton served as a financial consultant for ASM International NV.  He was Chief Financial Officer for PB Unlimited.   Also, he served as corporate controller at eFunds.

Graybar announced that Randall R. Harwood has been elected Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Harwood has worked for Graybar since 1978 and has served on Graybar’s Board of Directors since 2009.  He is currently District Vice President in the company’s Dallas district. Harwood’s appointment follows the announcement that D. Beatty D’Alessandro will be resigning from Graybar as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as a member of Graybar’s Board of Directors.

AppDirect announced that it appointed John Moffett joins as Chief Financial Officer. John Moffett comes to AppDirect after spending two years as CFO at Vizu Corporation. Previously, Moffett served as CFO of Digg. Prior to Digg, he worked at Equinix, Wells Fargo, Atherton Capital, and KPMG.

Impax Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPXL) announced that Bryan M. Reasons has been appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). Mr. Reasons joined Impax Laboratories in January 2012 as vice president, Finance, and has served as acting CFO since June 2012. Prior to joining Impax Laboratories, Mr. Reasons served as vice president, Finance, and as vice president, Risk Management and General Auditor, at Cephalon, Inc. (Cephalon). Following the acquisition of Cephalon by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Teva), he served briefly as the vice president, Finance, of Teva. Prior to joining Cephalon in 2005, Mr. Reasons held various finance management positions at Dupont and began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCSC) announced the appointment of its new Chief Financial Officer, Charles Mathis. Mathis previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Force Protection, Inc. Beginning his career in investment banking at Salomon Brothers, Mr. Mathis later held financial leadership positions at United Dominion Industries, Inc., EnPro Industries, Inc., and Elbit Systems Ltd.

Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) announced that Melissa H. Cruz, the company’s Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, has informed the company that she has decided to retire in 2013 for personal reasons.

Michael Baker Corporation (NYSE: BKR) announced that upon the resignation of its CEO, Bradley L. Mallory, the Company has created an Office of the Chief Executive, including Michael J. Zugay, chief financial officer, to lead the Company on an interim basis. Mr. Zugay joined Baker in 2009 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He previously was senior vice president and chief financial officer of iGate Corporation, and prior to that served as president and chief executive officer of Bliss-Salem, Inc.

Levi Strauss & Co. announced that Harmit Singh will join the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer on January 16, 2013. Most recently, Singh was chief financial officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. In addition to his four years at Hyatt Hotels Corporation and fourteen years of various global leadership roles at Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company, (including CFO of Pizza Hut), Singh also worked at American Express India and Price Waterhouse in India. Upon his arrival, Kevin Wilson, who has served as interim chief financial officer since August 2012, will resume his role as vice president, finance for the Americas Commercial Operations.

USANA Health Sciences, Inc.(NYSE: USNA) announced that Doug Hekking is stepping aside as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer to return to a strategic role that will support the Company’s finance and operations groups. Mr. Hekking’s decision to change roles was prompted by his need to attend to family health matters and his desire to serve in a more targeted role within the Company. Paul Jones, who is currently serving as the Company’s Vice President of Human Resources, has been named as interim CFO. Mr. Jones has been with USANA since 2005. Prior to joining the Company, he worked with Associated Food Stores, Inc. as Vice President of Operations – Dan’s Foods; Vice President of Farr West Operations; and Vice President of Human Resources.

Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc. announced the addition of William “Bill” Butz as Maxim’s new Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the team, Bill served as President of Erickson Living. Before leading the team at Erickson Living, Bill worked for Allegis Group for 15 years where he held various financial leadership positions, including CFO of Aerotek; Allegis Group’s largest operating company.

Earthstone Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ESTE) reported that James M. Poage resigned as the Company’s interim Chief Financial Officer. The Company appointed Paul D. Maniscalco to be the Company’s interim Chief Financial Officer. Since 2006, Mr. Maniscalco has been a Principal with SJM Financial and Accounting. Prior to joining SJM, Mr. Maniscalco was a Senior Audit Manager with Sherb & Co., LLP located in Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Maniscalco has Big 4 as well as regional CPA firm background.

Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: TEG) named James F. Schott, currently vice president – external affairs, to serve as vice president and chief financial officer for Integrys effective January 1, 2013. Schott succeeds Joseph P. O’Leary, senior vice president and chief financial officer, who announced plans to retire in 2013. Jim started his career working with Arthur Andersen. He later worked for Wisconsin Gas (now a subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy Corporation) where he held several positions including controller, vice president finance and vice president operations. Since joining Integrys in 2003, he has held the roles including assistant vice president regulatory affairs and later vice president external affairs.

RENN Global Entrepreneurs Fund, Inc., (NYSE: RCG) announced the resignation of Barbe Butschek, Chief Financial Officer to pursue other interests. RENN Global is also pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin W. McAleer, a partner with Pillar Solutions Group LLC. as acting Chief Financial Officer.

KnowledgeTree announced the appointment of Petra Weishaupt-Smith joined as chief financial officer. Petra Weishaupt-Smith joined most recently from Digitalsmiths Corporation where she served as COO and CFO. Prior to that position, she served as CFO for A4 Health Systems.

iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS) announced the resignation of Steven Gatoff, senior vice president and chief financial officer. Mr. Gatoff has served since early 2009 and will remain in his current position with iPass through February 2013 at which time he will be relocating back to the East Coast.