- Maytag Corp. finally got around to doing a load. The Newton, Iowa-based household appliance maker promoted Steven H. Wood to the posts of executive VP and CFO, after being without a permanent finance chief all year. Wood previously served as the company’s VP of financial reporting and audit. It also named financial-reporting director Steven J. Klyn as VP and treasurer.
A year ago, Gerald J. Pribanic resigned as CFO ostensibly “to pursue other opportunities,” though the announcement came just one month after Maytag’s stock took a dive from 74 1/4 to 31 1/4. On top of a dismal earnings announcement–about which Maytag failed to warn Wall Street–Pribanic was asked to take a demotion to the controller position. He refused, though he said the title change had nothing to do with his resignation. General counsel Frederick Wohlschlaeger had been serving as acting CFO since then.
- “No, wait–I take it back.” David Thompson told Plano, Tex.-based Entrust Technologies it could count on him after all. Though he resigned as CFO the company in mid-November to join a privately-held firm, he withdrew his resignation today and will continue as SVP and CFO.
- Dale Jorgenson is buying a one-way ticket out of the corporate life. The CFO of Honolulu-based Cheap Tickets Inc. announced his retirement after three years with the discount travel services seller. Last year he made $293,000 and exercised $50,000 in options.
- Gary O. Rhea is interacting with a new crowd now. He’s been appointed CFO of Internet professional services firm US Interactive Inc. Rhea joins the Cupertino, Calif.-based firm from Versant Corp., where he was SVP of finance, CFO and corporate secretary. He succeeds Philip L. Calamia, who resigned.
- The Gates are open to former Lazard Freres & Co. San Francisco managing director Richard Emerson. He was named to the newly-created position of SVP of corporate development and strategy at Microsoft Corp. Emerson will be in charge of M&A and investments for the Redmond, Wash.-based software firm. Until now, CFO John Connors held this responsibility.
- A Matter of Logistics: Jan Christiansen was named VP and CFO of USF Worldwide Logistics, a subisdiary of USFreightways Corp. Christiansen joins the Itasca, Ill.-based freight- forwarding company from Panalpina World Transport Ltd., where he was CFO of the North American business.
- A Brand New Day: James L. Fetter was named SVP and CFO of Carlsbad, Calif.- based Sunrise Medical Inc. He joins the medical products and assistive technology developer from Outboard Marine Corp., where he was VP of finance. He succeeds Ted N. Tarbet, who is resigning after a 14- year tenure with Sunrise. He made $265,000 last year.