Baker Hughes named Lynn L. Elsenhans, former Sunoco CEO and executive chairman, to the board of directors, according to a statement from the global oilfield service company. Elsenhans also previously served as chairman and CEO of Sunoco Logistics Partners, and worked for Royal Dutch Shell in a number of positions over 28 years. She will be joining the GlaxoSmithKline board in July.
Piper-Jaffray Vice Chairman of Investment Banking Jon Salveson will join the CryoLife board of directors. Salveson held a number of leadership positions at Piper-Jaffray since joining in 1993, including managing director and executive committee member. Steven G. Anderson, chairman and CEO of CryoLife, said, “Jon is an expert in the medical devices industry having spent the last 19 years in healthcare investment banking and corporate finance at Piper Jaffray. His industry knowledge and M&A experience will be a welcome asset as we continue to pursue our corporate development initiatives, including expanding our higher growth, higher margin medical device segment.”
Tiffany & Co. elected Robert S. Singer to its board of directors. He joins eight incumbent directors who were re-elected. Singer has held a variety of senior-level corporate positions, including CFO of Gucci Group NV. Singer will chair the board’s audit committee and replaces J. Thomas Presby, who has reached the mandatory retirement age. Michael J. Kowalski, Tiffany chairman and CEO, said, “Bob Singer is a valuable addition to our board, bringing his global perspective about luxury retailing and his expertise in the field of auditing. We express our thanks and appreciation to Tom Presby for the years of guidance and many insights that he contributed to our board.”
Blyth—a leading designer and marketer of candles, accessories for the home and wellness products sold through the direct selling and direct marketing channels—announced the election of Jane A. Dietze and Brett M. Johnson to its board of directors. Dietze is director of private equity and Bowdoin College’s investments office and Johnson is CEO and president of Forward Industries. Robert B. Goergen, Blyth’s chairman and CEO, said of Dietze’s appointment, “Jane brings a strong technology background and financial management expertise to Blyth. We are very pleased to have her join us now as a significant percentage of our capital expenditures are being used for strategic technology investments in our direct-to-consumer businesses.” Of Johnson’s appointment, Goergen said, “Brett brings consumer products experience to Blyth as the sitting CEO of a public company. His sales and marketing knowledge will make him a valued dialog partner in our future strategic efforts.”
Canadian Pacific Railway tapped Stephen Tobias as interim CEO after its former chief executive Fred Green announced his departure Thursday, ending a months-long battle that pitted New York activist Bill Ackman against a board of directors stocked with leading Canadian business titans. The railroad operator also elected a new board of 16 directors, including Ackman—its largest shareholder—and a slate of seven dissident directors, its largest shareholder. The board will now be chaired by Madeleine Paquin.
Ashland announced that Brendan Cummins, former CEO of Ciba Specialty Chemicals, has been elected to the company’s board of directors, bringing the number of board directors to 10. Cummins brings nearly 40 years of industry leadership experience to this new role. He spent 37 years with Ciba, holding a variety of international and senior management roles within the company. These roles included 20 years spent in the Asia Pacific region in finance and business unit leadership assignments.
Adobe Systems expanded its board to 12 members with the addition of Comcast Senior Vice President Amy Banse, Cisco CFO Frank Calderoni and Starcom MediaVest Group global CEO. “We are pleased to welcome three individuals of this caliber to our board of directors,” said John Warnock and Chuck Geschke, co-chairmen of the board. “Amy Banse, Frank Calderoni and Laura Desmond bring deep expertise in media and technology to our board, which are critical to our mission of being the category leader in digital media and digital marketing.”
Vincent H. Tobkin, owner of Tobkin Enterprises and former senior advisor, director and global telecom/technology practice leader at Bain & Company, joined the Radisys board of directors, according to a company statement. Tobkin is also former general partner and co-founder of Sierra Ventures, and currently serves on the Tellabs board of directors. “We are extremely pleased to add Vincent to our board of directors. His expertise and background nicely complement our existing board members,” said Scott Gibson, Radisys Chairman. “His 20 year track record as a strategic consultant to telecom service providers and equipment manufactures brings a depth of understanding of our industry, customers and competition that will help Radisys with oversight of the execution and refinement of our strategy. In addition, his experience as a successful venture capitalist has demonstrated his skills in what it takes to produce winning teams and companies.”
Following the resignation of Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson amidst an inquiry into his education claims, company chairman Roy Bostock also announced his resignation, with former Rovi CEO Fred Amoroso stepping into the chairman role. Amoroso has served on the Yahoo! board since February. In addition, the company reached a settlement agreement with investor Third Point LLC, accepting nominees Daniel S. Loeb, Third Point CEO; Harry J. Wilson, MAEVA Group CEO and Michael J. Wolf, former MTV president, onto the board, effective May 16.
Freddie Mac has named former E*Trade Financial CEO and Chairman Donald Layton as CEO and a member of the board of directors, according to a company statement. He reportedly had been considered the frontrunner for the job for more than a month. He was appointed two years ago by the Treasury as an outside director of AIG. Layton served with J.P. Morgan Chase for 29 years, and is chairman of the board of the Partnership for the Homeless nonprofit. “Don brings strong executive leadership and a deep understanding of financial markets at a pivotal time for Freddie Mac,” said Christopher S. Lynch, Freddie Mac’s nonexecutive chairman. “His operating experience, analytical rigor and boundless energy make Don the right leader to continue our important work of supporting the nation’s housing market and helping America’s families, and to guide Freddie Mac in helping build a stronger framework for the future of housing finance.”
Leigh Anne Brodsky has been named a member of the board of directors at JAKKS Pacific, according to a statement from the toy and consumer products company. Brodsky is former president of Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products and has worked in senior executive roles for Broadway Video.
Diamond Foods has appointed former Hostess Brands CEO Brian J. Driscoll as the packaged food company’s newest CEO and director. Driscoll replaces Rick G. Wolford, who had been serving as interim CEO since February. Before joining Hostess Brands, he held a number of executive positions at Kraft, including president of sales and customer service. “We are delighted to welcome Brian to Diamond Foods and believe that his proven management skills and his experience over a 30 year career with leading food and consumer businesses such as Kraft, Nabisco, Nestlé and Procter & Gamble, and most recently at Hostess Brands, make him a perfect choice for Diamond,” said Robert J. Zollars, Diamond’s chairman.
Former Pepsi Beverages Company CEO Eric J. Foss will be assuming the CEO role at ARAMARK, succeeding Joseph Neubauer, who will remain as chairman. Foss was chairman and CEO of publicly traded Pepsi Bottling Group before it merged with PepsiCo. “Eric Foss is an outstanding leader with extensive experience running global enterprises,” said Neubauer in a statement on the appointment. “He has a proven track record of delivering impressive results while building exceptional relationships with business partners, clients and employees. I am delighted to have an executive of Eric’s caliber lead ARAMARK forward.”
MKS Instruments has named Elizabeth A. Mora to the board of directors, according to a news release from the company. Mora is CFO of The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, and is former CFO and vice president of finance at Harvard University.
Former Trinity Health CEO Judy Pelham has been named to the board of directors at Health Care REIT. Pelham has also previously served as CEO of Mercy Health Services and Daughters of Charity Health Services of Austin, Texas.
Former United Airlines Vice President of Integration Management Lori A. Gobillot has been appointed to the board of directors at Bristow Group, according to a news release from the helicopter services provider. William E. Chiles, Bristow Group CEO, stated, “We are delighted that Lori Gobillot has agreed to join the Bristow board of directors. Her leadership experience in the airline industry will be a major asset to our board. She brings a depth of aviation, legal and transaction expertise to Bristow. The board of directors and the management team look forward to her contributions to the organization.”
Philip Morris International named Jacek Olczak, current president of the company’s European Union region, as company CFO, succeeding Hermann Waldemer upon his retirement at the end of July 2012. “I am genuinely pleased to also announce that Jacek Olczak will succeed Hermann as Chief Financial Officer,” said CEO and Chairman Louis C. Camilleri in a statement. “Jacek is a highly capable and experienced executive who has served as president, European Union Region, since April 2009. Since joining PMI in 1993, Jacek has held a series of increasingly senior positions in Finance, Sales and Operations, including General Manager Romania, Managing Director Poland and the Baltic States, Area Vice President Central Europe and Managing Director Germany and Austria. I have long admired Jacek for his extraordinary intellect, his consistent ability to deliver strong results and his proven leadership skills.”
Seagate Technology Chairman and CEO Stephen J. Luczo was appointed to the Microsoft board of directors, expanding the board to 11 members, according to a company statement. Before joining Seagate, Luczo was senior managing director of the global technology group at Bear Stearns. “Steve has deep technology and financial expertise, and we are delighted that he is joining Microsoft’s board of directors,” said Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman.
Christopher & Banks elected three new directors: Casual Male Retail Group CEO David A. Levin, Quetico Partners Partner and Managing Director William F. Sharpe III and A&H Manufacturing President Patricia A. Stensrud. Paul Snyder, chair of the board of directors, commented, “We are extremely pleased to have David, William and Patricia join our board. Collectively they bring considerable knowledge and experience in the areas of finance, marketing and operations, in addition to an understanding of retail and women’s apparel issues. We look forward to their contributions.”
Starbucks elected former U.S. Secretary of Defense and current College of William & Mary Chancellor Robert M. Gates to the board of directors, the coffee chain announced in a statement. Gates was the first defense secretary to serve under presidents from both political parties, having served under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Gates has also served as president of Texas A&M University, and was named one of Time’s “Most Influential People” in 2007. ““We are honored and humbled to be adding this distinguished American leader to Starbucks’ board of directors,” said Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO. “Secretary Gates has devoted his life to serving our country and our next generation of leaders and public servants. His unique global perspective and more than four decades of distinguished public service will complement and strengthen our board as we accelerate our global growth and expand our commitment to the communities where we do business all around the world.”
Yum! Brands promoted Chief Planning and Control Officer Pat Grismer to CFO. Grismer has served with the company for 10 years, including as CFO of Pizza Hut (UK) and CFO of YRI. Prior to joining Yum! Brands, he was vice president of strategic planning and new business development at The Disneyland Resort.
Daniel J. Heinrich was appointed to the Energizer Holdings board of directors, expanding the board to 10 directors, according to a news release from the consumer goods company. Heinrich most recently served as CFO of The Clorox Company, and is former Transamerica senior vice president. “We are pleased to welcome an executive of Dan’s caliber to the Energizer board,” said J. Patrick Mulcahy, chairman of the board of directors of Energizer. “During his distinguished career, Dan has worked in senior leadership roles in the consumer products and financial services industries and brings to Energizer unmatched expertise in finance, accounting and strategy development and execution. We look forward to benefiting from his perspective and experience as we continue to position Energizer for future success and to deliver value to our shareholders.”
Groupon has elected Starbucks CEO and Chairman Howard Schultz to the board. “As CEO of one of the world’s most iconic brands, Howard is an invaluable addition to the Groupon board,” said Andrew Mason, founder and chief executive officer of Groupon. “His experience in building the culture and business of Starbucks and his relentless focus on innovation to improve customer experiences brings a unique combination of skills to our board of directors.”
Richard A. Sampson has been named to the Atmos Energy board, the natural gas distributor announced in a statement. Sampson is managing director and a client adviser in the strategic client group at JPMorgan Chase in Denver. He is former director of investments for JPMorgan Chase’s defined-benefit and defined-contribution plans.
The Allscripts Healthcare Solutions board of directors has elected former mPower Chairman and CEO Dennis Chookaszian as company chairman, according to a company news release. Chookaszian is also former CNA Insurance chairman and CEO, and has served as chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council.
Donna Morea, CGI Technology and Solutions director and former company president, has been elected to the SunTrust Banks board of directors, according to a statement from the banking organization. “We welcome Donna to the SunTrust board and look forward to benefiting from the extensive technology industry experience and valuable perspectives she brings to our organization,” said CEO William H. Rogers Jr.
JetBlue Airways has confirmed Interim CFO Mark Powers as the company’s official CFO. Powers, who has served on an interim basis since October 2011, previously served the company as vice president-finance and treasurer. “Mark’s leadership since joining JetBlue in 2006 has greatly contributed to our company’s success,” said JetBlue’s CEO, Dave Barger. “I look forward to working closely with Mark on creating and implementing JetBlue’s strategy, valuing not just our financial performance, but our culture and brand as well.”
Exelon Generation has announced that Carol Peterson, vice president, project and asset management, Exelon Nuclear, was named to the board of directors of Constellation Energy Nuclear Group. Peterson joined Exelon in 2002 and has held a variety of positions in engineering and finance. She is responsible for the planning and execution of major projects across Exelon’s 10 nuclear facilities. Peterson replaced board member Charles Berardesco, senior vice president and general counsel, Constellation.
Former Kellwood Company CFO Steven Baginski has been appointed CFO of The Children’s Place Retail Stores, according to a company news release. Baginski was previously CFO of Hercules Tire & Rubber and senior vice president of corporate finance at Limited Brands.
Lockheed Martin CEO and Chairman Bob Stevens has announced his intention to retire from his CEO position, and COO Chris Kubasik has been named his successor. Kubasik has served as COO since January 2010, and has previously held the CFO and executive vice president of the company’s Electronic Systems business area positions. He is a member of the USO board of governors.
Citi has appointed Michael E. O’Neill chairman of the board of directors, and named Franz B. Humer and Joan E. Spero as directors, the bank announced in a statement. O’Neill has served on the Citi board since 2009, and is the retired chairman and CEO of the Bank of Hawaii. He also served as vice chairman and CFO of BankAmerica (now Bank of America) and was a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Humer is chairman of Roche Holding, and was previously CEO of the Roche Group. Currently, he is a member of the European Round Table of Industrialists and a member of the board at Jacobs Holdings. Spero is a senior research scholar at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, and former under secretary of state for economics, business and agricultural affairs during the Clinton Administration. She is a director at IBM and International Paper.
Accuride has named John W. Risner as chairman of the board. He joined Accuride’s board in February 2010 and most recently served as lead independent director and chair of the board’s audit committee. Risner serves on the board of directors, audit and finance committees of NII Holdings and previously was a member of the board of directors of Airgate PCS and UGC Europe.
Michael C. Child, TA Associates senior advisor, has been named to the Ultratech board of directors, according to a news release from the photolithography and laser processing equipment producer. Child is also a director at Finisar, IPG Photonics and FreeWave Technologies. Ultratech Chairman and CEO Arthur W. Zafiropoulo noted, “We look forward to welcoming Mike back to the Board. With his extensive industry background, and his knowledge of Ultratech having served as a board member in the past, Mike will be an immediate and valuable contributor to our board. We look forward to his guidance as we continue to expand Ultratech’s leadership position in the semiconductor equipment industry.”
RPM International has added Thomas S. Gross to the board, succeeding the retiring Donald K. Miller. Gross is vice chairman and COO of the Electrical Sector of Eaton Corporation, and serves as chairman of Axiom International Investors. He previously held board and executive management positions at Greylock Financial, Thomson Advisory Group, PIMCO Advisors and Layne Christensen Company.
Tellabs has named former APAC Customer Services CFO Andrew Szafran as the company’s newest CFO. Szafran has also served as CFO of Communications Supply, and succeeds Timothy J. Wiggins, who resigned in December. “Andrew brings strong analytics, financial management and turnaround skills to Tellabs,” Tellabs CEO Robert W. Pullen said. “He has successfully led companies through challenging times and will help guide Tellabs on our path to sustained growth and profitability.”
Thomas M. Nealon, Southwest Airlines director and former J.C. Penney group executive vice president, has been appointed to the Fossil board of directors, according to a company news release. Nealon’s appointment expands the board to twelve members. He previously served as J.C. Penney’s chief information officer, and as senior vice president and chief information officer for Southwest Airlines. Fossil Chairman and CEO Kosta Kartsotis said, “We are tremendously pleased to have Tom join our board. As we continue to expand our business globally, Tom’s significant experience in corporate strategy and information technology in the retail industry will be very beneficial to us.”
Carnival Corporation shareholders elected Diageo Canada CEO Debra Kelly-Ennis to the board of directors, the cruise company announced in a statement. Kelly-Ennis has also served as chief marketing officer at Diageo North America. She has been honored as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada for the past three years in a row by the Toronto Human Resources Professional Association, who also named her Leading Chief Executive Officer in 2010. “Debra Kelly-Ennis is an excellent addition to our board with extensive marketing and practical managerial experience gained through 30 years working with highly successful consumer brands,” said Micky Arison, Carnival chairman and CEO.
Hubert de Pesquidoux has been appointed to the Radisys board of directors, according to a news release from the embedded wireless infrastructure solutions company. De Pesquidoux is former Alcatel-Lucent CFO and was a member of the Alcatel executive committee. “We are extremely pleased to add someone of Hubert’s experience and background to our board of directors,” said Scott Gibson, Radisys’ chairman. “In addition to his financial expertise, Hubert’s significant breadth and depth of knowledge in the telecommunications industry will be invaluable as the executive team develops and executes on our strategy of being the leading provider of embedded wireless infrastructure solutions.”
Former United States Ambassador to China and Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. has been elected to the Caterpillar board of directors, the construction and mining equipment manufacturer announced in a statement. Hunstman recently ran for the Republican nomination for president, and is currently chairman of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and a director at the Ford Motor Company. “With his extensive global experience in the business world and as a senior statesman for the United States, Jon brings a unique global perspective and experience to our board that will provide strategic guidance on critical trade and policy issues that are important to Caterpillar,” said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman.
Quest Diagnostics has named Stephen H. Rusckowski as successor to CEO Surya N. Mohapatra’s, effective May 1. Rusckowski, who will also join the company’s board of directors, is currently CEO of Philips Healthcare and a member of the Royal Philips Electronics board of management and executive committee. “Steve Rusckowski is uniquely qualified to be Chief Executive Officer of Quest Diagnostics,” said Daniel Stanzione, current lead director, who will transition into the nonexecutive chairman role as of May 1. “He has built an enviable track record in healthcare by successfully driving growth, both organically and through disciplined, effective acquisitions. His emphasis on operational excellence has enabled him to deliver consistently impressive results.”
Retired Ernst & Young Managing Partner Jan Babiak has been elected to the Walgreen Co. board of directors, according to a company news release. Babiak was founder and managing partner of Ernst & Young’s most profitable UK practice, which provided IT security, transformation, program management and advisory and assurance services. She was also appointed to the NEMIA executive management board, where she served as managing partner for regulatory and public policy. Walgreens CEO Greg Wasson said, “With her highly-regarded experience in IT, sustainability, audit and public policy, Jan will be a tremendous resource to our board and our company. She brings an innovator’s perspective that will be valuable in our transformation to a health and daily living destination, and her commitment to diversity initiatives and active career mentoring of men and women also will be extremely important in the years ahead.”
Family Dollar Stores has named former Giant Eagle CFO Mary A. Winston as CFO, replacing Kenneth T. Smith, who expects to leave the company in October 2012, the retailer announced in a statement. Winston is also former CFO of Scholastic Corporation, treasurer and controller of Visteon and vice president of global financial operations at Pfizer. She is a member of the board of directors at Plexus and Dover, where she serves as the chair of the audit committee. “With more than 25 years of financial management and leadership experience, Mary is an excellent addition to our team,” said Howard R. Levine, chairman and CEO. “Her extensive financial experience, combined with her strong communication and analytical skills, make her a great choice to help us execute against our strategic plan to expand our market share and drive greater financial returns.”
Mark N. Greene, chair of the Fair Isaac Corporation Advisory Council and former company CEO, will join the Neustar board of directors. Greene has also held responsibility for strategic planning in the financial services sector at IBM, and has held senior positions at Technology Solutions, Berkeley Investment Technologies, Citicorp and the Federal Reserve Board. “We are very pleased to name Mark to Neustar’s Board of Directors. Mark’s significant experience with, and deep understanding of, data analytics make him an ideal addition to the Board, particularly as the company looks to grow its customer base in the industries we serve. His skill set and business experiences complement the current Board’s expertise and will serve our stockholders well,” said Neustar’s Chairman of the board James G. Cullen.
Avon Products has appointed Sherilyn S. (Sheri) McCoy to CEO and its board of directors, the global beauty company announced. McCoy served for 30 years at Johnson & Johnson, where she served in a number of leadership roles, including vice chairman of the company’s Pharmaceutical, Consumer, Corporate Office of Science & Technology and Information Technology divisions. Andrea Jung, former Avon CEO, will continue in her chairman position. “Sheri has a unique combination of strategic and finely honed operational skills, a significant turnaround track record, global experience and people leadership. Given her consistent record of outperforming against new challenges, we have great confidence that under Sheri’s leadership Avon can successfully execute against our strong long-term prospects,” Fred Hassan, lead director of Avon’s board, said in a statement. Last week, the company elected Douglas R. Conant, retired Campbell Soup Company CEO, to the board. Conant also served in a number of senior leadership positions at Nabisco, and is currently CEO and founder of leadership consulting firm DRC.
Former C&D Technologies CEO Jeffrey A. Graves has been appointed CEO of MTS Systems, succeeding interim CEO William V. Murray, who will remain on the board of directors. Graves is also a member of the board of directors at Teleflex and Hexcel. “We are thrilled to welcome an executive of Jeff’s caliber to MTS. He brings a unique combination of scientific depth, a proven track record of success in senior management positions at global companies in our sector, and significant experience in government contracting and compliance,” said David J. Anderson, chairman of the board. “These qualifications make him the ideal person to lead MTS into our next stage of growth.”
Banking and payments technology provider FIS has elected Frank Martire chairman and CEO, according to a company statement. Martire has served in the CEO role since October of 2009, and was chairman and CEO of an FIS predecessor. Current Chairman William P. Foley II will remain as the board’s vice chairman.
Yahoo has added three new directors to the board: John D. Hayes, American Express chief marketing officer; Peter Liguori, former Discovery Communications COO and former Fox Broadcasting Network chairman and Thomas J. McInerney, outgoing CFO at IAC/InterActive. The board has proposed electing Third Point’s Harry Wilson and a second individual agreed upon by the board and the company’s major investor, a measure which will be voted upon at this year’s annual meeting. “Each of these individuals impressed the search committee with their demonstrable records of significant accomplishment at the highest levels of media, advertising and marketing, finance, including corporate finance and restructuring, and further insight into customers’ perspectives. Together, they bring a powerful mix of exactly the right ingredients to fuel Yahoo!’s forward momentum,” said Patti Hart, chairman of the Yahoo board’s nominating and governance committee.
Quanta Services Chief Accounting Officer Derrick A. Jensen has been promoted to CFO, as current CFO James H. Haddox will be transitioning to the executive vice president role on May 17. Jensen has also served as company controller. “Derrick has demonstrated tremendous talent during his long tenure with Quanta,” said Haddox. “This is the optimum time for this transition given the company’s financial position and the outlook for our business.”
Panera Bread Founder and Executive Chairman Ron Shaich will join current CEO Bill Moreton in the corner office, becoming co-CEOs, the bakery-cafe franchise announced in a statement. Shaich will retain the role of chairman of the board. “This is the kind of partnership with Ron that I’ve always wanted,” said Moreton. “It couldn’t be better for Panera and I personally couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to continue to share the leadership of Panera with Ron. Panera will certainly benefit from both of our experiences and the company will be stronger for our shared vision, passion and commitment.”
D. Michael Steuert, current Fluor CFO, announced his retirement, and the company named Tenet Healthcare CFO Biggs C. Porter as his successor. “We are pleased to welcome Biggs to Fluor and we are confident that he will continue to further strengthen our financial discipline, maintain our excellent relationships with key financial audiences and help the company continue creating significant shareholder value,” said Chairman and CEO David Seaton. “Biggs understands the demands and complexities of leading a global finance organization in today’s uncertain marketplace, and his diverse industry experience and leadership style are good matches for Fluor.”





















Thanks for this updated info…this has helped us to update our corporate database.
Interesting to note is that one-third of the new board of director announcements summarized here in Directorship were women (19 out of 58) in addition to one promotion of a seated woman director to Chairmanship. Among the CFO announcements included here, another third were women (4 out of 12). For future reference, it might be helpful to separate out promotions to C-Suites from nominations to Boards of Directors. See for example how Alice Krause handles it at http://www.newsonwomen.com