>> Managers at executive recruitment firm Korn Ferry International named Gary Burnison chief financial officer… He succeeds Elizabeth Murray, who left in February to become CFO of Digital Insight Corp…. Burnison joins Korn Ferry from systems-integration specialist Guidance Solutions… At Guidance, Burnison was principal, CFO… He also worked at investment bank Jefferies and Co. and at KPMG Peat Marwick… Korn Ferry’s interim CFO, Donald Jordan, to stay on at company, but with new title (SVP of finance)…
“[Burnison] has strong public company experience and a proven track record running the financial operations of a global firm,” says CEO Paul Reilly… Not surprisingly, Korn Ferry conducted the search for new CFO… Korn Ferry posted a $7.3 million net loss for Q3, as weak global economy affected all business lines… Revenue for the quarter plunged almost 41 percent, down to $93 million… Management offering cautious outlook for near term… “We feel the upturn is coming, but we’re not banking on it,” says Reilly. Apparently not: Korn Ferry management expects Q4 earnings to be worse than Q3 earnings…
>> John Carl, CFO at Allstate Insurance Co., leaving insurer because of health-related issues… Carl was appointed to current post in 1999… Before that, he was CFO at Amoco Corp., now a part of BP PLC—nee British Petroleum… “Carl brought to the company a wealth of financial experience gained across a wide range of corporations and industries, and his broad perspective and shareholder value orientation helped guide our growth strategies over the last three years,” said Allstate CEO Edward Liddy… Carl’s successor will be named later this year… Allstate is second-largest insurer in United States…
>> Internet advertising agency L90 Inc. seeing a string of resignations… Most recent departure: CFO Thomas Sebastian… Sebastian had been on administrative leave since March—left on same day John Bohan, then L90’s CEO, resigned… (Bohan was replaced by Mitchell Cannold, who came over from Space.com.)… In addition, L90 founder Mark Roah resigned from the company’s board this month… If that’s not enough, L90’s VP of finance resigned in February after managers announced the company is under investigation by SEC… Not surprisingly, L90 struggling financially… For the nine months ended September 30, company’s total revenue fell 23 percent, down to $27.2 million… Company recorded net losses of $22 million, about a 51 percent increase.
