News from CIO 100: AARP CIO steps down

While at the CIO 100 conference in Coronado, Calif., I learned on Monday that John Sullivan is leaving AARP.  A source close to Sullivan told me that Sullivan has accepted the CIO post at the American Chemical Society’s publications division.  My source, who had just heard that morning that Sullivan would be stepping down, seemed surprised and sorry to hear that Sullivan would be leaving.  “He’s a good guy,” my source said of Sullivan with sincerity. 

Also earlier this week, MetLife promoted its CIO, Steven L. Sheinheit, to executive vice president.  Sheinheit assumes additional responsibility for global sourcing and the enterprise-wide Travelers’ project management office while maintaining his role as the top IT strategist.  He continues to report to MetLife’s Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Catherine A. Rein.  Sheinheit has served as SVP and CIO since January 2005.  From November 2000 to January 2005, he was the company’s chief technology officer. Initially responsible for the company’s enterprise-wide infrastructure, he later received oversight of enterprise application development.

Yuh-Mei Jong Chang was promoted to vice president and CIO for debt management operations at Sallie Mae.  Chang, who is based in Fishers, Ind., is responsible for information services and technology across General Revenue Corporation, Pioneer Credit Recovery, Student Assistance Corporation and Portfolio Management. She joined USA Group in 1985. Chang holds master’s degrees in computer science and psychology from Indiana University and Northern Illinois University, respectively, and a bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan.

Also at Sallie Mae, Cheri Dayton was promoted to vice president of systems development.  Dayton, also based in Fishers, Ind., is responsible for information technology teams within loan originations, guarantee processing, disbursement processing, and customer information support, loan origination software releases and other system upgrade projects. She joined USA Group in 1991 and earned an associate’s degree in computer programming from Indiana Vocational Technical College.

I got an e-mail on Tuesday from Phil LaBelle, who last month started working at Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, N.Y., as its new vice president of information technology on July 14, 2005.  All of IT reports to LaBelle, who reports to the senior vice president of finance and administration.   LaBelle spent the last 12 years working in the hospitality industry.