- Lose a CFO, Gain a CFO: Chubb Corp., the Warren, N.J.-based car, home, and business insurer, named Weston Hicks, a former sell-side insurance analyst, as CFO. Hicks replaces David Kelso who resigned to pursue other opportunities. Hicks joined Chubb at the beginning of March as financial assistant to the company’s chairman and CEO Dean O’Hare. For the previous two years, Hicks was the property casualty insurance analyst at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Inc., covering Chubb and other non-life insurers. In 2000, former CFO Kelso took home $416,876 in salary, $250,000 in bonus, $85,960 in restricted stock, and $70,985 toward the company’s qualified capital accumulation plan and its capital accumulation excess benefit plan.
- Put On Your Sneakers: Athletic footwear and apparel retailer Footstar Inc. named Steve Wilson CFO. Before joining the Mahwah, N.J.-based firm, Wilson had been EVP of finance and administration at Bridge Information Systems. Before that, he held CFO posts at the Reader’s Digest Association, RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp., and PepsiCola USA. Wilson fills a position that was open since last November, when Carlos E. Alberini left to become president and COO of Guess? Inc.
- Dressing In Layers: Children’s apparel retailer Gymboree Corp. said CFO Larry Meyer resigned to pursue other opportunities. COO Alison May will take on financial responsibilities as acting CFO. Meyer will remain with Burlingame, Calif.-based Gymboree as an adviser through July, the company said in a statement.
- The future looks bright for Cynthia Hallenbeck. She was named CFO of Refco Global Futures, a subsidiary of Refco Group Ltd. LLC. Hallenbeck joins the New York-based financial services company from Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., where she was director of the securities services division margin and collateral management group.
- What’s In Store: Brocade Communications Systems Inc., a data storage products maker, VP of finance Tony Canova has added CFO to his title. Canova replaces Michael J. Byrd, who was promoted to president and COO of the San Jose, Calif.-based company. In 2000, Byrd earned $250,000 in salary, $413,900 in bonus and $420 toward a life insurance premium.
- CFO Cushion: Comfort cushioning maker Foamex International Inc. said CFO Lee Stewart resigned. The Linwood, Penn.-based said that Carl Kraus, who had been Foamex’s interim CFO prior to Stewart’s appointment, will reassume the post until the company appoints a permanent CFO.
- No Surprises Here: Consystant Design Technologies Inc., a Kirkland, Wash.-based software maker, named Tom Averill to the CFO slot. Most recently, Averill was VP of strategic planning and CFO of Aris Corp., a Bellevue, Wash.-based E-business consulting company. In 2000, Averill took home $117,211 in salary and $30,000 in bonus at Aris.
- El CFO: Mexico City, Mexico-based industrial conglomerate Desc S.A. de C.V. named Arturo D’Acosta Ruiz as CFO. Ruiz is an 18-year veteran of the company and its subsidiaries. Former CFO Ernesto Vega, retired after 30 years.
- It’s In His Genes: Montreal, Quebec-based SignalGene Inc., a genomics drug discovery company, named Claude Monette to the posts of president and CFO. Monette was most recently president & CEO of L.P. Thebeault Co.
- CFO On The Field: Willbros Group Inc., a provider of oilfield-related services that is headquartered in the Republic of Panama, named Warren Williams as CFO. Williams succeeds Melvin Spreitzer, who will continue as an EVP and director. Williams previously served as CFO of a Gulf Coast oilfield services company.