The CIO to CEO Career Trajectory

I am delighted to report that we have another entry in the “CIO to CEO” career trajectory.

Mike Skinner, formally CIO of Eurpac, has been appointed CEO of Eurpac Brokerage Operations. I asked Mike which skills he picked up as CIO would serve him well in the new role. “IT touches all of the different functional areas of the organization,” he says. “That knowledge will be critical to me as CEO.”  Will Mike be harder or easier on IT, having seen the world through the CIO lens? “I would say my expectations of IT will be higher, based on the fact that I have worked with the IT team and I know how strong they are” he says.  Mike’s advice to CIOs interested in moving into the big chair themselves some day:  “Take the opportunity to stay involved in operations, and when you recognize the accomplishments of the people working for, pint toward their achievements in furthering the business, not in technical feats alone.”

More good news from the first quarter:

AMETEK, Inc.  announced the appointment of Kenneth C. Weirman as Vice President and CIO.  He replaces William P. Lawson, who retires after 20 years with the Company.

Comerica Bank has named Paul R. Obermeyer  executive vice president and CIO  for Comerica Incorporated.  Obermeyer succeeds John Beran, who recently retired after a 15 year-career with Comerica.  Obermeyer is a member of Comerica’s Management Policy Committee and reports to Ralph W. Babb Jr., Chairman and CEO.

Scott Allard has joined Allegiant Travel Company as CIO.  Allard will oversee all of the Company’s technology needs and will ensure Allegiant’s website offers world-class e-commerce capabilities to leisure travelers in search of travel deals. Allard is a technology industry leader, particularly in the travel sector. He recently served as CIO at Spirit Airlines and previously held various leadership roles at Travelworm,  American Express and Priceline. Allard will be an executive officer of the Company and will report directly to the Company’s CEO.

Minnesota has a CIO: Carolyn Parnell was named head of the Office of Enterprise Technology today by Governor Mark Dayton. Parnell, whose mission will be to “help improve government through the effective use of information technology,” is currently chief operating officer for Information Technology Services for the Minnesota System of Colleges and Universities (MnSCU).

Boeing has named Kim Hammonds CIO and vice president of the company’s Information Technology organization. Hammonds, who was formerly vice president of the Boeing Information Technology Infrastructure organization, replaces John Hinshaw, who has been named vice president and general manager of Boeing’s new Information Solutions division in Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

Haas Group International Inc. has named Karl Wachs as its new CIO effective immediately.  Wachs succeeds Mike Faist who will retire.   Wachs was formerly the Global CIO of Celanese  in Dallas, Texas.

Stephen J. Woerner has joined Constellation Energy as vice president and CIO .

Home improvement company, Lowe’s promoted Michael Brown to CIO reporting to chairman and CEO Robert Niblock.  Brown succeeds  EVP and CIO  Steven Stone, who is leaving to pursue other interests. Brown most recently served as executive vice president of store operations and lowes.com.

QinetiQ  North America has announced the appointment of John Lambeth as chief information officer. Lambeth will be responsible for strategic development of the company’s information technology capabilities and management of its IT network infrastructure, according to QinetiQ officials. Lambeth joins QinetiQ North America from Blackboard, where he was vice president of the Technology Solutions.

Myles Trachtenberg is now CIO of TravelCLICK .  Prior to joining TRAVELCLICK, Myles served as Senior Vice President and CIO of Register.com, where he was responsible for website and technology services for over 2.5 million customers

David Behen, a veteran technology entrepreneur and Eastern Michigan University alumnus, will take on a new role as chief information office (CIO) for the State of Michigan. Behen, 41, is currently co-founder and chief business officer for InfoReady Corporation, an Ann Arbor-based software company. The corporation is a spinoff from GDI InfoTech, where he is vice president and chief information officer. Behen will join the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) Feb. 14 in Lansing. As CIO, he will oversee the application of technology with the goal of reinventing state government.

American Express has named Toby Eduardo Redshaw CIO, heading up the card firm’s global technology operations. Redshaw will report to Stephen Squeri, group president, Global Services, when he joins in January. Squeri had served as CIO since May, 2005, in addition to heading Global Services since the group was formed last year.

Thanks for listening and sending me news – until next time….

MarthaPresident

Heller Search Associates