John Killian plans to retire as finance chief of Verizon Communications Inc. near the end of the year. Killian, who has been CFO since March 2009, has been at the company since he joined then-New England Telephone in 1979. Verizon plans to name his replacement soon.
Blockbuster Inc. has announced that CFO Thomas Casey has resigned. He will be replaced by Dennis McGill, formerly CFO of Safety-Kleen Systems Inc.
Darline Jean, head of finance at About Group, which runs Website About.com, will add to her responsibilities by becoming chief operating officer at the Website, a newly created position. She began her career at About.com in 2003 as director of business analysis.
LED developer and manufacturer Luminus Devices Inc. has named Walter Shephard to the top finance spot. Previously, he was CFO of Zygo Corp.
Joe Massaro has been appointed to lead the finance function at InVentiv Health, replacing David Bassin, who had been CFO since 2007. Most recently managing director at Liberty Lane Partners LLP, Massaro is a former senior vice president of global business services at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Chatham Lodging Trust has named Dennis Craven finance chief. He succeeds Julio Morales, who will stay on in a transition role for 30 days. Craven joins the hotel real estate investment trust from Innkeepers USA Trust, where he also was CFO.
John O’Neill is the new head of finance at renewable-energy firm Ram Power Corp. He takes over from Paul Zavesov, who will be taking on a senior position in business development at the company. O’Neill is a former CFO and treasurer of Homeland Renewable Energy.
Insurer AssuranceAmerica Corp. has appointed Sheree Williams to the top finance spot. She comes to the firm from 21st Century Insurance and Financial Services, where she was vice president of finance.
Steven Seinberg has resigned as CFO of biotechnology firm BioTime Inc. in order to return to practicing law. Chief operating officer Robert Peabody will serve as interim finance chief until a replacement for Seinberg is found.
Jonathan Baliff has been named finance chief at Bristow Group Inc., effective October 11. He comes to the company, which provides helicopter services to the offshore energy industry, from NRG Energy Inc., where he was executive vice president, strategy.