- Top Conductor: Semiconductor maker TranSwitch appointed Peter Tallian, a former executive at software concern Metavante Corp., to the CFO position. Tallian replaces Michael Stauff, who is leaving the Shelton, Conn.-based company after a six-year tenure to pursue personal interests. Stauff, who was SVP and CFO at Metavante since 1995, will remain with the company as a consultant for an unspecified amount of time.
- A Sterling Selection: Houston, Texas-based Sterling Bancshares, a bank holding company, named Eugene Putnam to the CFO and EVP positions. He was previously SVP of investor relations and corporate communications at SunTrust Banks. Putnam joined SunTrust from Crestar Financial Corporation, a bank holding company based in Richmond, Virginia, which SunTrust acquired in 1998.
- High Tech CFO: RS Information Systems, a Mclean, Va.-based information technology and engineering firm, named Melvin F. Reed as CFO. Reed, who will be responsible for financial and contractual activities, was formerly VP of finance at Digital Systems International, a government contractor. He was also a financial consultant and served on the board of advisors to several start-up businesses.
- Powerful Boost: Fuel Cell Technologies Corp., a Canadian developer of stationary solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power systems for commercialization, announced that Christopher McFarlane has joined the executive team as CFO. He has spent the past number of years as CFO and CEO in high technology information management companies, such as Granada Canada Limited, Spar Aerospace Limited, and BCE.