CEO Moves this week include:
WestJet | CN | 3M |
Gogo | The Cooper Companies, Inc. | AutoWeb, Inc. |
Connecticut Water Service Inc. | The OIX | AdvoCare International, L.P. |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | The Institutional Limited Partners Association | Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. |
Wild Things, LLC | Revel Systems | LOGiQ Asset Management Inc. |
ZAGG Inc. | BetterWorks | Guidemark Health |
YES! Communities | ParkWhiz | Global Knowledge |
Tillman Infrastructure | Heartland Automotive Services, Inc. | Adicet Bio, Inc. |
REZ 1, Inc. | PAREXEL International Corporation | Sharing Services, Inc. |
Xtera | Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc. | NephCure Kidney International |
Kia Canada Inc. | SP Industries Inc. | Azuqua |
BCR Inc. | Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. | Passport Food Group |
Bojangles’, Inc. | Anika Therapeutics, Inc. | Imanis Data |
Indigo Signworks | The LoRa Alliance |
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CEO Moves is published by Samuel Dergel (Executive Search Consultant with Dergel Executive Search). Samuel can be reached by email at samuel@dergelsearch.com or by phone at +1 (415) 738-2070.
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WestJet [CALGARY] announced Gregg Saretsky, President and CEO, has advised the time has come for him to retire from the company. Current Executive Vice-President Commercial, Ed Sims, will assume the role of President and CEO. Mr. Sims has also been appointed to the Board of Directors. Mr. Sim’s career spans more than 30 years in the tourism and aviation industries, encompassing airlines and tour operators, as well as air traffic control. He has worked in the European and Australasian markets, holding senior commercial and general leadership positions with Tui, Thomas Cook, Virgin Groups and Air New Zealand where he led the international wide-body business. Before joining WestJet as Executive Vice-President, Commercial, in May 2017, he was CEO of Airways, New Zealand’s air navigation service provider.
CN [MONTREAL] (TSX: CNR, NYSE: CNI) announced that Luc Jobin has left CN as CEO. The Board has appointed Jean-Jacques Ruest Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ruest has been with the company for twenty-two years, the last eight as Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer.

3M [ST. PAUL, Minn.] (NYSE: MMM) announced that Michael F. Roman is appointed chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2018. He succeeds Inge G. Thulin, who is appointed to a newly created position, executive chairman of the board, also effective July 1, 2018. Roman has served as chief operating officer and executive vice president since July 2017. He has held several other key leadership roles throughout his 30-year career at 3M.
Gogo [CHICAGO] (NASDAQ: GOGO) announced that Oakleigh Thorne has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Thorne’s appointment follows the mutual decision by Michael J. Small and the Gogo Board of Directors for Small to step down as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a director of the Company. Thorne, a director of the Company since 2003, has approximately 30 years of leadership experience with significant operational and financial expertise. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Thorndale Farm LLC, the family office of the Thorne family, which is the largest Gogo shareholder. Mr. Thorne has served in numerous senior management positions, including as Chief Executive Officer of two public companies. From May 2000 until July 2007, Mr. Thorne served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of eCollege.com. Earlier in his career, Mr. Thorne served as Chief Executive Officer of Commerce Clearing House (CCH).
The Cooper Companies, Inc. [PLEASANTON, Calif.] (NYSE: COO) announced that it has named Albert G. White III President and Chief Executive Officer of The Cooper Companies effective May 1, 2018. White will succeed Robert S. Weiss who will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer on April 30, 2018, and then act in an advisory capacity until December 31, 2018, to ensure a smooth transition. Mr. White has held a number of senior management roles in the Company including most recently Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy Officer and CEO of Cooper Medical, Inc., the holding company for CooperSurgical.
AutoWeb, Inc. [IRVINE, Calif.] (NASDAQ: AUTO) announced president and CEO Jeffrey Coats will be stepping down to begin the next chapter of his life, following completion of the board’s process and the appointment of a new president and CEO in the coming months.

Connecticut Water Service Inc. (CTWS) [Clinton, Conn.] announced that David C. Benoit has been named president and CEO of the company. Benoit has served as interim president and CEO since Sept. 28, 2017. Benoit has been the company’s senior vice president, chief financial officer (CFO) and treasurer. He has more than 30 years of experience with regulated utility companies, including gas and electric, and was CFO at CTWS for 21 years before becoming interim president.
The OIX [LOS ANGELES] announced that Ron Bienvenu has joined the company as Interim-CEO. Mr. Bienvenu is software and financial industry veteran with 30 years of experience in enterprise SaaS development, among other areas of technology experience and expertise.

AdvoCare International, L.P. [DALLAS] announced the promotion of Brett Blake to Chief Executive Officer, replacing industry-veteran Brian Connolly who served as interim-CEO during the extensive executive search. Blake was hired in October to serve as President of Global Sales and Strategic Planning. Prior to joining AdvoCare Blake served as CEO of Origami Owl Family of Brands, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Beachbody – where he also sat on the Board – and other management roles at Melaleuca, USANA Health Sciences, and PepsiCo. Blake will assume his new role on April 1.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. [THOMASVILLE, N.C.] (NASDAQ: ODFL) announced that effective May 16, 2018, Greg C. Gantt has been elected to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, succeeding David S. Congdon, who has served as Chief Executive Officer since January 2008 and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors since May 2015. Mr. Gantt, who will also retain his current title of President, originally joined the Company as a Regional Vice President in 1994 and has assumed ever-increasing roles and responsibilities over the past 24 years.
The Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) [WASHINGTON and TORONTO] announced the appointment of Steven Nelson as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nelson brings 20 years of global experience serving endowments, foundations, pensions and family offices at Cambridge Associates where he has held numerous leadership roles including his most recent position as Chief Operating Officer. He will officially assume his ILPA role on March 26, 2018, based out of the organization’s Washington, DC office.
Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. [LOS ANGELES] (NASDAQ: ENT) announced that it has appointed Jeff Leddy to the positions of Executive Chairman of the Company and Chairman of the Board, and has appointed Josh Marks to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Marks will also join the Company’s Board of Directors upon his appointment as CEO. Mr. Leddy has been Chief Executive Officer since February 2017 and a member of our Board since Global Eagle’s business combination with Row 44 and Advanced Inflight Alliance in 2013. Mr. Marks joined the Company in 2015 and currently serves as Executive Vice President of the Company’s Connectivity segment.
Wild Things, LLC [NEW YORK] announced that Amy Coyne has joined as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Ms. Coyne joins Wild Things from ADS Inc., where she was the Vice President of the Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment (“OCIE”) Market. Prior to this role at ADS, Amy was President and CEO with Propper International.
Revel Systems [SAN FRANCISCO] announced the appointment of Greg Dukat to Chief Executive Officer. Scott Betts will step down from his role as CEO, but will remain close to the organization and has been appointed to the company’s board of directors. Most recently, Dukat was the Chairman, President, and CEO of Comverge. He also previously served as CEO of several technology companies in the enterprise management solutions space including Campus Management Corp, StarCite, and Indus International.
LOGiQ Asset Management Inc. [TORONTO] (TSX: LGQ) announced that Steve Mantle will be appointed interim Chief Executive Officer of LOGiQ, with effect from March 29, 2018. Mr. Mantle is a recognized industry veteran who joined the Company in December 2016 when Integra Investment Management was acquired. He was head of LOGiQ Global Partners. Mr. Mantle previously served as President and COO at Integra Investment Management Corporation, as President of First Trust Portfolios Canada, as Senior Vice President of Product at TD Waterhouse and as Senior Vice President at RBC Global Asset Management. Mr. Mantle will succeed outgoing LOGiQ President & Chief Executive Officer, Joe Canavan, who has chosen not to stand for reelection to the board.
ZAGG Inc. [SALT LAKE CITY] (NASDAQ: ZAGG) announced that Randy Hales will retire as ZAGG’s President and CEO after serving in the role for the past six years. In addition, Hales has resigned from the Board of Directors on which he has served since October 2010. The Board of Directors has appointed Chris Ahern, who has been serving as head of the mophie brand and international businesses, to succeed Hales as CEO of ZAGG Inc. Ahern will also assume Hales’ seat on the Board of Directors. Hales will continue to serve as an advisor to the company through December 2018 to ensure a smooth transition. Chris Ahern has been president of the ZAGG International Business unit since June 2014, and assumed the additional role as president of mophie in 2017 to lead the brand’s turnaround effort. Chris brings over 20 years of international experience in sales leadership, sales operations, and supply chain management. Previous to ZAGG, Chris served as Sales Operations Director for Dell Products in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
BetterWorks [REDWOOD CITY, Calif.] announced that Doug Dennerline, who was named Executive Chairman of the Board in November 2017, now adds CEO to his title. Dennerline brings deep experience leading companies including Alfresco, SuccessFactors, Salesforce and the Collaboration group at Cisco Systems.

Guidemark Health [PARSIPPANY, N.J.] announced the appointment of Michael Parisi as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Guidemark Health, Mr. Parisi was a Managing Partner at Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide.
YES! Communities [DENVER] announced that Steven J. Schaub, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, has been promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer, replacing Gary P. McDaniel. Mr. McDaniel will remain as a Senior Advisor to the Company. Schaub was a co-founder of YES! and has been the company’s Chief Operating Officer since its inception in January 2008. Prior to the formation of YES!, Mr. Schaub served for eight years in senior positions with Chateau Communities and its predecessor, ROC Communities.
ParkWhiz [CHICAGO] announced Yona Shtern as its new chief executive officer, assuming the role from founder Aashish Dalal who will become Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. Shtern was co-founder and CEO of Beyond the Rack. Shtern has served as the ParkWhiz Chairman for the past year.

Global Knowledge [CARY, N.C.] announced the hiring of Todd Johnstone as its Chief Executive Officer. Todd has held numerous global leadership roles in multiple industries across sales, operations, product management, Six Sigma, training, finance and as a CEO during his career.
Tillman Infrastructure [NEW YORK] announced that William (Bill) Hague, former AT&T Executive Vice President, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the company. Before joining AT&T Wireless, Hague led legal, human resources, and regulatory affairs at Pacific Northwest Cellular/Western Wireless Communications. He began his career as a Partner with Stokes Lawrence, LLC.
Heartland Automotive Services, Inc. (dba Team Car Care, LLC) [ROSEMONT, Ill.] announced that it has appointed Jeff Balagna as Chief Executive Officer. Balagna has served as CEO of Friday’s Restaurants, Carlson Marketing, Sears Auto Centers, and Sears Home Services. Additionally, he has held C-level positions at Medtronic and Eli Lilly, and senior executive roles at General Electric and Ford Motor Company.
Adicet Bio, Inc. [MENLO PARK, Calif.] announced that Aya Jakobovits, Ph.D., Founder of Adicet Bio, has retired from her position as President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Jakobovits will continue to serve on Adicet’s Board of Directors and act as a Senior Strategic Advisor to the company. Donald Santel, Executive Chairman of Adicet Bio, will serve as interim CEO.
REZ 1, Inc. [WELLESLEY, Mass.] announced the appointment of Pervinder Johar as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Johar will assume day-to-day leadership of the Company and joins REZ-1 from Edgeverve where he served as CEO of the InfoSys subsidiary. Prior to that, Mr. Johar was President and CEO at Steelwedge Software Inc. Mr. Johar previously served as Vice President of Global Supply Chain Systems at HP. Mr. Johar previously held the position of CTO at Manhattan Associates.

PAREXEL International Corporation [BOSTON] announced the appointment of Jamie Macdonald as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective March 15, 2018. Josef von Rickenbach, who co-founded the Company, will retire from his daily CEO duties and continue as Chairman of the Board.. Macdonald led INC Research, now known as Syneos Health, for several years first as CEO and most recently as Vice Chairman. In addition, Mr. Macdonald has held several leadership positions in the biopharmaceutical services industry, including Senior Vice President and Head of Global Project Management at Quintiles, now known as IQVIA.
Sharing Services, Inc. [PLANO, Texas] (OTC Markets: SHRV) appointed John “JT” Thatch as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Thatch successfully merged a technology company into a company that was a publicly traded entity and became CEO of the company for over five years, which currently trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange under name CUI Global. He has also worked in the public sector serving as a consultant to other public companies advising their Board of Directors on growth strategies and organizational structure. For the past 10 years, Mr. Thatch has worked in the private sector as a CEO of both an educational company and a wine and spirits wholesale distributor.
Xtera® [ALLEN, Texas and LONDON] announced that it has appointed Keith Henderson as Chief Executive Officer. Keith joined Xtera in 2004 and most recently served as COO. Prior to Xtera, Keith held senior positions at BAE systems, ASN and STC.
Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc. [SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.] (NYSE American: NES) announced that its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mark D. Johnsrud, has left the Company. Charles K. Thompson, a current member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), has been named Chairman of the Board and Interim Chief Executive Officer and will continue to serve on the Board. Mr. Thompson has served on the Board since August 7, 2017. He is currently a Managing Partner of PinHigh Capital Partners. Mr. Thompson recently spent two years at Nomura Securities building the oil and gas investment banking business.
NephCure Kidney International [KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.] announced that Joshua M. Tarnoff has been named the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Tarnoff most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Complexa, Inc. for 7 years. Mr. Tarnoff has also held executive positions at Viropharma Inc. and AstraZeneca.
Kia Canada Inc. [MISSISSAUGA, Ontario] welcomes Kyle Lee as the organization’s new President & CEO. Mr. Lee joins Kia Canada from his previous role as Chief Executive Coordinator at Kia Motors America and has a wealth of experience with the Kia brand in several European markets. Sean Yoon has left Kia Canada Inc. to take on the role of President & CEO of Kia Motors America.

SP Industries Inc. [WARMINSTER, PA.] announced the appointment of Brian Larkin as its President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing William (Bill) Downs who recently retired. Most recently Larkin served as Vice President and General Manager for Becton Dickinson’s US Diabetes Care business and prior to that was Senior Vice President and General Manager of LifeCell Corporation. Before that Mr. Larkin spent 16 years at Integra LifeSciences Corporation where he served in a variety of executive roles including President of the company’s NeuroSciences Division and President of the Spine and Orthobiologics Division. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for Dynatronics Corporation.
Azuqua [SEATTLE] announced that Todd Owens has been named its new CEO. Founder Nikhil Hasija will move to a new Chief Product Officer role. Owens was previously CEO of Appuri. Prior to Appuri, he was President and CEO of TalentWise. Owens also held leadership roles at Wind River, Siebel Systems and others.
BCR Inc. [JACKSONVILLE, Fla.] announced that Joshua R. Scott has been named CEO on a permanent basis. Scott previously served as President and Interim CEO since July of 2017, and COO since joining the company in late 2016.
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. [WESTERLY, R.I.] (NASDAQ: WASH) announced that Edward O. Handy, III has assumed the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and the Bank. Handy’s appointment follows the March 2nd retirement of Joseph J. MarcAurele as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Handy served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Washington Trust since November of 2013.
Passport Food Group [ONTARIO, Calif.] announced that Michael Axelrod has been named the company’s new CEO. Axelrod most recently served as a President at TreeHouse Foods, where he oversaw the company’s $1.5 billion Condiments division. He has also held senior management roles at Kraft, McCain Foods, Whirlpool and Pactiv. Axelrod succeeds John Signorino.
Bojangles’, Inc. [CHARLOTTE, N.C.] (NASDAQ: BOJA) announced that it has appointed James “Randy” Kibler as Interim President and CEO following the resignation of Clifton Rutledge for personal reasons. Mr. Kibler has been a Director of the Company since August 2011 and served as a Director and Non-Executive Chairman from February 2014 to June 2016. Prior to this, from September 2007 to January 2014, Mr. Kibler served as President, CEO, and Director for Bojangles’ Restaurants, Inc., the Company’s subsidiary. Mr. Kibler was previously President of Kibler-Mitchell Enterprises, Inc., a restaurant company in Spartanburg, South Carolina, from September 1996 to April 2011.
Anika Therapeutics, Inc. [BEDFORD, Mass.] (NASDAQ: ANIK) announced the appointment of Joseph Darling as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Dr. Charles Sherwood, who retired as Chief Executive Officer and a director after almost 20 years of service. Mr. Darling joined Anika as President in July 2017, bringing more than 20 years of extensive experience in executive management and leadership from publicly-traded, commercial-stage companies, including Abbott Laboratories, Baxter Healthcare, Smith & Nephew, CONMED, and Wyeth-Ayerst.
Imanis Data [SAN JOSE] announced that it named John Mracek as its new CEO. Former Imanis Data CEO Nitin Donde will continue with the company as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Previously, Mracek was CEO of NetSeer, Inc. He has also held leadership roles at AdKnowledge, eBay, Yahoo!, Adobe and Apple, as well as other startups.

Indigo Signworks [FARGO, N.D.] announced they have recruited Rick Schomburger as their new CEO. Rick began his career by applying his engineering degree as a Project Manager at Universal Scheduling Consulting. He broadened his operating skills as a Plant Manager at Cooper Tools and then Director of Operations at Tyco International. Rick’s executive leadership experience began as the COO of Weiser Lock and President Global Manufacturing Solutions for Masco Corporation, and then as General Manager at Rain Bird Corporation. In 2007 he parlayed his skills into entrepreneurship when he personally acquired Solana.
The LoRa Alliance™ [PORTLAND, Ore.] announced that it has appointed Donna Moore as the new CEO & Chair. Moore will replace current Chair Geoff Mulligan, who has led the organization since its inception in 2015. Most recently, Moore was CEO of SpireSpark. Prior to that, she served as the executive director of the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).