Fernando Fernandez | Unilever
Consumer goods giant Unilever appointed Fernando Fernandez as its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Fernando, currently president of the company’s beauty and wellbeing business group, replaces Graeme Pitkethly, who is retiring. Before his current role Fernandez, who has worked at the company for the last 35 years, was responsible for Unilever’s business in Latin America. Previous positions included leading Unilever Brazil, Unilever Philippines, and, before that, Unilever’s global hair care category.
Somer Webb | Solo Brands
Somer Webb is stepping down as CFO of Solo Brands, the direct-to-consumer platform for outdoor lifestyle brands Solo Stove, Chubbies, and Oru Kayak. Webb joined Solo Brands in May 2022 from third-party logistics provider Worldwide Express, where she worked for over six years, most recently as its finance chief. Andrea Tarbox will take over as interim CFO on Dec. 10 when Webb steps down. Tarbox is on the board of directors of Solo Brands and chairs the audit committee, and will temporarily step down as chair when she becomes interim CFO. Tarbox has held several CFO roles, including 12 years KapStone Paper and Packaging, where she helped lead its sale to WestRock Company in 2018.
Jeffrey Tate | Dow
Jeffrey Tate will take over as finance chief of materials science company Dow on Nov. 1. Tate rejoins the company after working at Leggett & Platt as CFO. Tate first joined Dow in 1992 and brings 27 years of prior Dow service in senior-level finance, operating, and general management roles, including working as vice president of finance for Dow packaging and specialty plastics. Earlier roles included chief audit executive leading Dow's global internal audit and investigation activities and was also director of investor relations. Tate succeeds Howard Ungerleider, who is retiring from the company. Ungerleider, who has worked at the company for 33 years, has been CFO since 2014.
Liz O’Melia | Dow Jones
Liz O’Melia resigned as CFO of Dow Jones after 16 months in the role, according to reports. The company, which owns the Wall Street Journal, started looking for O’Melia’s successor after she resigned “a few weeks ago.” O’Melia joined the company in May 2022 from S&P Global Ratings, where she worked for 13 years in various leadership roles, most recently as CFO. Earlier she was a CFO executive partner at Gartner. She has held senior roles at S&P Global, formerly McGraw-Hill, Covanta Energy, and Public Service Enterprise Group.
Stephen Weiland | Hyzon Motors
Hyzon Motors appointed Stephen Weiland as the fuel-cell vehicle developer’s new CFO, effective Nov. 1. Weiland was most recently chief financial officer of supersonic aircraft manufacturer Boom Supersonic. Before that, he worked at construction manufacturer Caterpillar as a division CFO for manufacturing and engineering, digital, and procurement divisions. Jiajia Wu, who has been the company’s interim CFO since April 2023, will transition to the role of senior vice president of finance and accounting.
Oliver Gloe | Latham Group
Oliver Gloe was named finance chief of the residential swimming pool manufacturer Latham Group, effective Nov. 13. Latham joins the company from home and security product maker Fortune Brands Innovations, where he was CFO of outdoors and security. Before that, he was CFO of global operations at tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker. He earlier held finance leadership roles at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, was CFO of Europe and Mediterranean for cable manufacturing company General Cable, and held finance and financial planning roles at Hexion Specialty Chemicals, an adhesives and coating materials producer. Mark Borseth, who is currently interim chief financial officer, will transition to the role of strategic advisor to the company.
Peter Daley | Contrast Security
Contrast Security hired Peter Daley as the code security platform’s new chief financial officer. Before joining Contrast, Daley worked at cybersecurity company CrowdStrike for seven years, most recently as vice president of strategic finance and investor relations. At CrowdStrike, he led various private and public financing rounds, including its initial public offering.
Benjamin Hamawy | Upward Health
Home-based medical group Upward Health appointed Benjamin Hamawy as CFO. Hamawy was most recently region chief financial officer for health insurance company Humana, where he was responsible for the profit and loss statement of $10 billion in operational premiums. Before that, he was managing partner and fractional Chief Financial Officer at Nola Consulting Group, and before that, he was the chief operating officer and CFO of Mignon Faget LTD for 10 years.
