CFOs On the Move: Week ending Oct. 23
Jennifer Hamann | Union Pacific
Union Pacific’s CFO Jennifer Hamann will retire in early 2027 after a 35-year career with the freight railroad company. Hamann joined Union Pacific in 1992 as a member of the corporation’s audit staff and was appointed to the top finance spot in January 2020. The company plans to announce Hamann’s successor at a future date.
Zach Kirkman | Mach Industries
Mach Industries hired Zach Kirkman as chief financial officer of the defense manufacturing company. Kirkman most recently was deputy CFO of General Motors. He earlier helped set up and guide the corporate development function at Tesla. Kirkman started his career at Apple, where he held several positions, including in corporate development.
Ted Towne | Pittsburgh Penguins
Ted Towne, CFO of the Washington Nationals, is leaving the MLB team to become chief financial officer of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a professional ice hockey team. Towne joined the baseball organization in 2008 as controller and has been chief financial officer since 2022. Towne replaces Chad Bern, who has been interim CFO since May. Bern was appointed to take over for outgoing finance chief Michael Dillon, who was appointed chief financial officer and chief operating officer of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Lynx.
Paula Dempsey | Torrid
Torrid’s CFO Paula Dempsey is leaving the apparel retailer for a new opportunity. Dempsey, who has been CFO since December 2023, will remain in the role through mid-November. Torrid has named Will Langley as interim chief financial officer, effective Oct. 28. Langley previously spent 20 years at department store chain Belk, including most recently as chief financial officer. Other roles at Belk included vice president of treasury and finance and director of FP&A.
Samantha Stoddard | Standex
Standex, a manufacturing company that makes specialized components for electric vehicles, aerospace and medical equipment, appointed Samantha Stoddard as CFO. Stoddard will take over as CFO on Dec. 1. She joins the company from building products manufacturer Jeld-Wen Holding, where she has been EVP and chief financial officer since July 2024. Before joining Jeld-Wen in 2020, she held roles at Honeywell International, including CFO of its personal protection equipment business unit. Stoddard replaces Ademir Sarcevic, who was promoted to EVP, Corporate and Group President, Electronics. Sarcevic joined Standex as CFO in 2019.
Jeffrey Embt | Jeld-Wen
Jeld-Wen named Jeffrey Embt as interim CFO to replace outgoing finance chief Samantha Stoddard, effective Nov. 13. Embt will continue to serve in his current role of vice president and chief accounting officer. Before joining the building products manufacturer in January 2026, he was chief financial officer of EV battery supplier Proterra. He earlier held several finance leadership roles at BWX Technologies and Deloitte.
Peter Griffith | Mattel
Mattel appointed Peter Griffith as its new finance chief, effective Oct. 20. Griffith joins the toy maker from biotechnology firm Amgen, where he spent over six years as chief financial officer. Before that, he was president of Sherwood Canyon Group, a private equity and advisory firm. Griffith earlier spent more than two decades at EY, most recently as global vice chair of corporate development. Griffith succeeds Paul Ruh, who joined the company as chief financial officer in May 2025 from Kenvue, where he held the same role. Ruh will work in an advisory role through the end of the year.
Amy Ard | Forgent
Amy Ard was promoted to finance chief of Forgent, a company that makes electrical distribution equipment used in data centers, utility grids and large industrial facilities. Ard has been executive vice president of finance since joining the company in January. She earlier held CFO roles at smart home gym equipment maker Tonal, EV battery supplier Proterra, clothing rental subscription company Le Tote and global critical materials company AMG. Ard succeeds Ryan Fiedler, who will step down as CFO and transition to an external consulting role. Fiedler has held the top finance spot since 2025 and led Forgent through its IPO in February.
Mark H. FitzPatrick | iCOUNTER
Cyber intelligence firm iCOUNTER hired Mark H. FitzPatrick as chief financial officer. FitzPatrick was most recently CFO of SimpliSafe, a home security system company. Before joining SimpliSafe in 2022, he was EVP and CFO of Madison Square Garden Entertainment. He previously was deputy chief financial officer of WeWork. Earlier in his career, FitzPatrick held senior finance positions at Time Warner Cable, most recently as CFO of residential services, as well as leadership roles at AOL and Citigroup.
