CFO Moves – week ending December 6, 2019

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. [HAWTHORNE, NY] (NYSE: TARO) announced that it has accepted the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer, Mariano Balaguer, effective January 3, 2020.

Paul Parrish

Secureworks [ATLANTA] (NASDAQ: SCWX) announced the appointment of Paul Parrish as its new Chief Financial Officer. Parrish joins Secureworks from CIOX Health LLC, where he served as CFO. Parrish succeeds Wayne Jackson who has served as CFO of Secureworks for more than four years. Jackson’s planned move was announced in March, and he will stay on to assist in the transition through the end of the company’s fiscal year 2020. Before joining CIOX, he was CFO of Brightree LLC, and he was previously CFO of S1 Corporation.

Avalara, Inc. [SEATTLE] (NYSE: AVLR) announced that its chief financial officer (CFO), Bill Ingram, will retire March 31, 2020, and he will join the Board of Directors. Ingram will be succeeded as CFO by Ross Tennenbaum, Avalara’s executive vice president of strategic initiatives. Tennenbaum’s experience was built over a 10-year investment banking career at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, including working with Avalara for more than five years and leading its IPO in 2018.

KKR & Co. Inc. [NEW YORK] (NYSE: KKR) announced that Robert H. Lewin will be appointed Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), effective January 1, 2020. Lewin will succeed William (“Bill”) J. Janetschek who will be retiring from KKR at the end of the year. Since joining KKR in 2004, Lewin has held a number of positions. These include as an investor in private equity, helping launch KKR’s Asia business, co-leading the firm’s credit and capital markets businesses, and serving as Treasurer and Head of Corporate Development with oversight of KKR’s balance sheet. For the last two years, Lewin served as Head of Human Capital & Strategic Talent. Prior to joining KKR, Lewin was at Bear Stearns & Company. Lewin currently serves on the board of Answer the Call.

Alation Inc. [REDWOOD CITY, CA] announced the appointment of Eric Chan as Chief Financial Officer. Chan brings more than two decades of senior financial leadership to the company, having served as CFO at Optymyze, Formation Data Systems and Syncplicity by EMC, where he was responsible for the spinout to Skyview Capital. Prior to Syncplicity by EMC, Eric has also held various leadership positions at SuccessFactors and VMware. The CFO role at Alation had previously been held by Max Ochoa, who will continue as the company’s General Counsel.

EpicentRx, Inc. [LA JOLLA, CA] announced the appointment of Franck Brinkhaus, Ph.D., as Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Brinkhaus is CEO & Founder of Biotech Alliances International, Inc. Previously, Dr. Brinkhaus was Managing Director of Woodside Capital Partners.

Flowserve Corporation [DALLAS] (NYSE: FLS) announced that John E. (Jay) Roueche, III, Flowserve’s vice president, treasurer and investor relations, assumed the role of interim chief financial officer. Roueche’s appointment follows Lee S. Eckert’s departure from Flowserve as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Roueche has served as vice president, treasurer and investor relations, since October 2012. In addition, he served as Flowserve’s interim chief financial officer from February 2017 to October 2017. Prior to joining Flowserve, Roueche served in progressive accounting and finance roles with a variety of multinational companies.

Iteris, Inc. [SANTA ANA, CA] (NASDAQ: ITI) announced that Douglas L. Groves joined the company as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Most recently, Groves served as vice president, CFO and treasurer of Ducommun, Inc., having joined the company in January 2013. Through December 2012, Mr. Groves held the position of corporate vice president and chief information officer at Beckman Coulter, following a series of financial roles at the company beginning in January 1998. Prior to joining Beckman Coulter, Groves was corporate controller of a privately held civil engineering firm, and senior auditor and consultant at Deloitte & Touche. Groves will replace Andy Schmidt, whom Iteris has appointed as a senior advisor.

Repare Therapeutics [CAMBRIDGE, MA and MONTREAL, QUEBEC] announced that Steve Forte is appointed as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Forte was CFO of Clementia Pharmaceuticals until its recent sale to Ipsen. His experience includes nearly a decade at Aptalis Pharma Inc., where he was responsible for the overall corporate controllership function. Prior to Clementia, Steve was CFO of Thinking Capital Financial Corporation.

Builders Insurance Group [ATLANTA] announced the appointment of Ellen G. Smith to the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Smith was currently serving as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis with Builders. Smith served as interim CFO over the last eight months. Smith joined Builders in 2010 as Financial Reporting Manager before assuming her most current position as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis. Prior to joining Builders, Smith served as Audit Manager within the Insurance Practice at KPMG.

Venture Metals International [DALLAS] announced that it has appointed Michael (“Mike”) Ramirez as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Venture Metals, Ramirez was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Strategic Materials, Inc. Before that, Ramirez was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PSC, LLC.

Precision Optics Corporation [GARDNER, MA] (OTCQB: PEYE) announced the promotion of Daniel Habhegger to Chief Financial Officer. Habhegger initially joined Precision Optics in September 2019 as Director of Finance. Habhegger will succeed Don Major. Habhegger has held positions of Accounting Supervisor, Controller, Director of Financial Planning & Analysis and CFO for various companies including, SmartBear Software, AgaMatrix, Inc., and Weather Services International (an IBM Business).

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts [PARSIPPANY, NJ] (NYSE: WH) announced that David B. Wyshner has decided to step down as Chief Financial Officer, and move into a senior advisory role until March 1, 2020. The Company announced the promotion of its Treasurer and Executive Vice President, Michele Allen, to succeed Wyshner as CFO. Allen, who began her career at Deloitte & Touche, is a 20-year veteran of Wyndham Hotels, Wyndham Worldwide and Cendant Corporation – having been the global Senior Vice President of Finance and Controller for the former Wyndham Hotel Group, and Senior Vice President of Finance for Wyndham Worldwide.

America First Multifamily Investors, L.P. [OMAHA, NE] (NASDAQ: ATAX) announced that Craig S. Allen informed of his intent to retire and leave the Partnership in his capacity as its Chief Financial Officer on December 31, 2019. The Partnership appointed Jesse A. Coury, the Partnership’s current Corporate Controller, to serve as the Partnership’s interim Chief Financial Officer, effective on January 1, 2020. Coury has served as the Partnership’s Corporate Controller since 2017.

Hi-Crush Inc. [HOUSTON] (NYSE: HCR) announced that Laura C. Fulton, Chief Financial Officer, will resign as Chief Financial Officer and principal financial and accounting officer of the Company effective December 31, 2019. Phil McCormick, Vice President of Finance has been appointed by the Board of Directors to the role of Chief Financial Officer and principal financial and accounting officer effective January 1, 2020. McCormick joined Hi-Crush in August 2018. Prior to joining Hi-Crush, McCormick served in various senior level positions at KBR, Inc. from 2009 to 2018, including Vice President of Finance and Treasurer. Prior to that, he -held various senior level roles at LyondellBasell from 1998 to 2009, including Director, Internal Controls. McCormick began his career as an Audit Manager at Coopers & Lybrand in 1990.

Innovative Cellular Therapeutics (ICT) [ROCKVILLE, MD] announced the appointment of Morten Marott, who joined ICT as Chief Financial Officer in July 2019. Before joining ICT, Marott was Chief Financial Officer of Veloxis Pharmaceuticals A/S. Previously, Marott was a senior investment banker in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Deutsche Bank in New York. Prior to this, he was with the Healthcare Investment Banking Groups of RBC Capital Markets and Citigroup.

Terry Murphy

Kenna Security [SAN FRANCISCO, CA] named Terry Murphy as Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, Murphy was CFO of WhiteHat Security. He also led Finance at WhiteHat, Luminate, and GoBeam.

RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. [SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA] (NASDAQ: RAPT) announced the appointment of Rodney Young as chief financial officer. Most recently, he served as chief financial officer of Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc. Previously, he served as chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration of StemCells, Inc. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banker at Lehman Brothers and SG Cowen.

Andrew Lacko

ClubCorp Holdings Inc. [DALLAS] announced the appointment of Andrew Lacko as Chief Financial Officer. Lacko joins ClubCorp from Regis Corporation where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since July 2017. Before joining Regis Corporation, Lacko served as Sr. Vice President of Global Financial Planning and Analysis and Corporate Development at Hertz Global Holdings. Prior to Hertz Global Holdings, Lacko held positions of increasing Financial Planning and Analysis, Corporate Development and Investor Relations responsibilities at First Data Corp., Best Buy, UnitedHealth Group and Northwest Airlines.

AlgoSec [RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ] announced the appointment of Ilan Erez as Chief Financial Officer and General Manager. Most recently, he served as GM of 3D Systems’ software business unit. Prior to that, he spent a decade with Cimatron Ltd. as CFO and VP Operations before their acquisition by 3D Systems. Earlier in his career, he was CFO and VP Operations of Silicom Ltd., a controller of Biodar Ltd. and auditor for Kesselman & Kesselman (a member of PwC).

Aspen Group Inc. [NEW YORK] (NASDAQ: ASPU) announced that it has named Frank J. Cotroneo Chief Financial Officer. Cotroneo has been a Board member of Aspen Group since 2018 and served as Chair of its Audit Committee. Cotroneo previously served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Netspend (currently a subsidiary of Global Payments Inc.), as well as Chief Financial Officer of Acxiom Corporation (currently LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.), H&R Block, and MasterCard International Inc.

Reed’s Inc. [NORWALK, CT] (NASDAQ: REED) announced the appointment of Thomas J. Spisak as Chief Financial Officer. Spisak held numerous positions in multiple divisions of Diageo, most recently serving as Vice President of Finance and Controller of North America. Previously, he held positions of Vice President of Commercial Finance, Director of Business Performance and Senior Finance Director of Marketing and Innovation Decision Support, as well as other roles in finance. Prior to Diageo, Spisak served at International Masters Publishers, Inc. Joann Tinnelly, who served as Interim Chief Financial Officer during the transition, will resume her role as Vice President and Corporate Controller of Reed’s Inc. and take on an expanded role in Finance and Corporate Strategy reporting directly to the CFO.

Greg Wookey

Boulevard [LOS ANGELES] announced the appointment of Greg Wookey as the company’s first Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Boulevard, he served as the CFO for Inbenta. Before Inbenta, he spent nearly seven years at MINDBODY, Inc., where he served as the CFO and SVP of Merchant Processing Division.

LYNKD [MOUNT LAUREL, NJ] named Bob Daglian as Chief Financial Officer. Daglian began his career with Holman Enterprises, more than 35 years ago and has held a wide-range of financial and accounting positions across the organization’s various subsidiaries including ARI and Auto Truck Group. Daglian joins LYNKD from Flexdrive, a joint venture between Holman Enterprises and Cox Automotive, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Expedia Group [SEATTLE] (NASDAQ: EXPE) announced the resignation of Alan Pickerill as CFO. Eric Hart, the Company’s Chief Strategy Officer, will serve as acting CFO.

Capstone Turbine Corporation [VAN NUYS, CA] (NASDAQ: CPST) announced the appointment of Frederick (Eric) Hencken III, the Company’s current Interim Chief Financial Officer, to the position of Chief Financial Officer, effective as of January 1, 2020. Hencken will continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer, and principal financial officer and principal accounting officer of the Company. Hencken was appointed to Interim Chief Financial Officer of Capstone effective October 1, 2019. Mr. Hencken has served as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer since April 2019 and served as the Company’s Controller from October 2017 to April 2019. Prior to joining the Company, Hencken held various roles in Finance and Accounting with InnoVista Sensors, previously Custom Sensors and Technologies, Inc., from 2012 to 2017. While employed at InnoVista Sensors, Mr. Hencken’s various roles included the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, International Controller, and Director of Finance and Administration, North America. Prior to InnoVista Sensors, Hencken served as the Manager of Financial Reporting from 2008 to 2011 and Director of Financial Reporting in 2012, for THQ Inc. Prior to THQ Inc., Hencken was employed by McGladrey, LLP, from 2001 to 2008.

Aparna Ramesh

The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac) [WASHINGTON] (NYSE: AGM) announced the selection of Aparna Ramesh as its Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, starting January 6, 2020. Ramesh joins Farmer Mac with over two decades of financial experience, most recently with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where she served in increasingly complex and senior finance roles culminating in her appointment as Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the Boston Fed, Ms. Ramesh spent ten years in commercial banking at M&T Bank and Cambridge Savings Bank in roles spanning product management, asset-liability management, and profitability.

SparkCognition [AUSTIN, TX] announced that Jeffrey R. Lass has joined the company’s executive team as Chief Financial Officer. Lass has over 25 years of leadership experience in finance and operations with companies including GE Oil and Gas, Dover Corporation, Dresser, Inc., Pavilion Technologies, Trilogy Software, and PwC.

Matt Bates

Zenoss Inc. [AUSTIN, Texas] announced Matthew Bates as the company’s new chief financial officer. Prior to joining Zenoss, Bates spent more than 17 years at Rackspace. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer (Americas). Prior to Rackspace, Bates was an investment banker in North America and Asia for Deutsche Bank.

Origin USA [FARMINGTON, ME] announced that Don Miller has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Miller joins Origin USA after having served a nine-year tenure with BackOffice Associates (now “Syniti”), where he served in multiple leadership positions of increasing responsibility, including Controller, Director of Financial Operations, and Vice President of Corporate Planning and Analysis. Don also recently served as Interim CFO with Glivinski & Associates. Prior to BackOffice Associates, Don was an integral member of the financial and operational leadership teams at TDS Telecom, and GTE Corporation, where he held multiple positions of increasing responsibility in Finance, Treasury, Accounting, and Internal Audit.

N2 Biomedical [BEDFORD, MA] announced the appointment of Heidi DeGrazia to the role of Chief Financial Officer. DeGrazia has worked extensively in both the healthcare and manufacturing industries, including financial leadership positions at Avantor, Integra Companies, and Access TCA.

Berlin Packaging L.L.C. [CHICAGO] announced Amath Fall has joined as Chief Financial Officer. Fall most recently acted as the CFO for FleetPride. Prior to FleetPride, he served as CFO for several distribution companies including Ryan Herco Flow Solutions and Performance Team.

Africa Asset Finance Company [NEW YORK and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates and ADDIS ABBABA, Ethiopia] announced the appointment of Christine D. Gagnon as Chief Financial Officer. Previously, Gagnon served as a Director at Ernst & Young LLP in various leadership roles, including CFO and COO of EMEIA Financial Crime and COO of Financial Services Africa. She also held leadership positions at OneWest Bank, N.A., serving as First Vice President in the Offices of the CEO and Vice Chairman, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as a Senior Manager.

Jerash Holdings (US), Inc. [ROCHESTER, NY] (NASDAQ: JRSH) announced the appointment of Gilbert K. Lee as Chief Financial Officer. Lee previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Fuling Global Inc., from August 2015 until November 2019. Previously, from August 2011 through May 2015, Lee served Tanke Biosciences Corporation, first as its U.S.-based Chief Financial Officer and then as its Vice President of Business Development. He has also served as Director of Finance at Two’s Company, and as Director of Finance and Marketing at Essilor of America. Early in his career, Lee served as a Plant Controller for a roofing materials manufacturer.

James (Jim) H. Welch

Cognoa [PALO ALTO, CA] announced that James (Jim) H. Welch has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. Welch comes to Cognoa from Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, where he served as CFO. Prior to Eiger Pharmaceuticals, Welch was CFO at AcelRx. He also worked at Rigel Pharmaceuticals.

Harborside Inc. [OAKLAND, CA and TORONTO, Ontario] (CSE: HBOR) announced that it has appointed Tom DiGiovanni as Chief Financial Officer. Keith Li will remain with the Company as the Vice President of Finance. DiGiovanni most recently was a founding partner and the CFO at Canndescent.  Prior to joining Canndescent, DiGiovanni served in multiple executive roles in finance and operations, including as CFO of Mainstream Energy.