- Here’s the Scoop:
Friendly Ice Cream Corp., a family restaurant operator in Wilbraham, Mass., said that Paul Kelley has resigned from his position as senior VP and CFO. The company has begun an active search for a CFO. In the interim, Paul J. McDonald will advise the company on financial matters. McDonald is a special advisor to Friendly’s board and was formerly senior EVP and CFO for Friendly’s. McDonald retired from the CFO position in January 2000 after 24 years with the company.
- Follow the YellowBrix Road: Alexandria, Va.-based Internet content firm, YellowBrix, promoted its CFO /b>, to the position of CEO. Lampert will replace former CEO David Hoppman, who resigned his position to pursue other business opportunities.
- The Missing Piece:
Innovex Inc., an electronics component maker, named Thomas Paulson as senior VP and CFO, effective immediately. Prior to the appointment, the CFO position at the Maple Plain, Minn.-based company was vacant. Paulson spent 19 years at the Pillsbury Co., a unit of British food and drink conglomerate Diageo Plc where he held a variety of executive positions. Most recently he was VP of finance for Pillsbury’s $4 billion North American Division.
- Joint Venture:
Versant Ventures, a venture capital firm in Menlo Park, Calif., named Robin Praeger as its CFO. Praeger comes to the firm after 11 years with the San Francisco office of Arthur Andersen LLP where he worked as a tax partner.
- A New Enterprise:
Integrated Development Enterprise, Inc. (IDE), a provider of development chain management software, named Robert Markus its CFO. Before joining Concord, Mass.-based IDE, Markus served as VP of finance and administration of Andover, Mass.- based MyWay.com, a CMGI Internet content company.
- Climbing the Financial Ladder:
Cincinnati Financial Corp. named Kenneth W. Stecher as its new CFO. Since 1997, Stecher has served a number of roles in the finance department including SVP of Cincinnati Financial and The Cincinnati Insurance Cos. He advanced through the accounting department’s officer ranks after joining Cincinnati Financial in 1973.
- A real ringer: Telecommunications network services provider, RiT Technologies Ltd. named Daniel Erdreich as its new CFO, effective March 1. Before joining Tel Aviv-based RiT Technologies, Erdreich was CFO of data-processing company Comtec Inc. He will replace Eyal Bigon, who has decided to leave the company at the end of February to pursue other interests. Bigon will continue to work as a consultant to the company for the next several months.
- A good find:
Unicomp, Inc., a provider of retail e- business solutions and vertical software applications, named Gary R. Melick as its VP and CFO. Melick joins Marietta, Ga.-based UniComp from Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises, an operator of fast-food chicken restaurants, where he was VP and CFO of the bakery cafe Division.
- He’s on top of the world:
DVC Worldwide, a provider of marketing, communications, and technology solutions, announced John A. Wozniak has joined the Morristown, N.J.-based company as CFO. Mr. Wozniak joins DVC after serving as senior VP and corporate controller at advertising and marketing firm, Young & Rubicam Inc., headqartered in New York.
- Shapin’ up:
INCUBED Ltd., a provider of solutions for the healthcare benefits management industry, announced that Douglas F. Lawson has joined the Toronto, Canada-based company as COO and CFO. Most recently Lawson was CFO for LEAP Energy and Power Corp.
- Movin’ on up: Etobicoke, Ontario-based Clarke Inc., a provider of freight transportation and logistics services, announced the appointment of James G. Lawn to the position of VP, finance, and CFO, effective March 1, 2001. Lawn will be joining Clarke from his position as CFO of the Ventra Group Inc., an auto parts maker in Toronto, Canada.