Assurant, the New York City-based specialty insurer with $8.7 billion in 2009 revenue, hired Brian Koppy as vice president of investor relations. Koppy, 41, most recently was director of investor relations and communications at Barnes Group. Earlier, he worked in finance, strategy and planning and investor relations roles at Aetna.
Brent Smith was appointed CFO, treasurer and executive vice president of Cal Dive International, a Houston, Texas, marine contractor with $829 million in 2009 revenue. He replaces Bruce Koch, who is leaving to pursue personal interests. Smith, 35, most recently was Cal Dive's vice president of finance and earlier served as director of finance and investor relations. Before joining Cal Dive in 2007, he was assistant controller at Helix Energy Solutions group. He began his career in public accounting.
Capella Education, a $334 million online education company in Minneapolis, named Steven Polacek CFO and senior vice president. He succeeds Lois Martin, who is leaving Capella at the end of 2010. Polacek, 50, most recently was CFO and senior vice president at Hutchinson Technology. Earlier, he was CFO and chief administrative officer at Opus Corp. and served as a partner at Deloitte & Touche and Arthur Andersen.
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Larry Rodriguez was named CFO and executive vice president of $299.7 million Central Pacific Financial Corp. in Honolulu and its main subsidiary, Central Pacific Bank. His predecessor, Dean Hirata, the bank's CFO since 2004, left at the end of May. Rodriguez, 65, retired from Ernst & Young in 2007 as Hawaii managing partner. Since then he has worked as a consultant, and he had provided consulting services to Central Pacific since January. Rodriguez began his career in 1967 at Arthur Young, a predecessor company of Ernst & Young.
FreightCar America, a Chicago-based manufacturer of railroad freight cars with $248 million of 2009 revenue, named Joseph McNeely CFO. He replaces Christopher Nagel, who is leaving to pursue new opportunities. McNeely, 46, most recently was vice president of Mitsui Rail Capital. Before joining Mitsui in 2007, he was vice president of finance at GATX Rail and served as the unit's primary financial officer.
Danny Herron was named CFO and executive vice president of Advanced Energy Industries, a Fort Collins, Colo.-based provider of power and control technologies with $186 million of 2009 revenue. He succeeds Lawrence Firestone, who resigned to pursue other opportunities. Herron, 55, most recently was CFO of Sundrop Fuels. Earlier, he served as a consultant at Tatum, as president and earlier CFO of VeraSun Energy, and as CFO of Swift & Co.
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