Whittaker Corp. Appoints Gerald E. Finnell as CFO

In a move that separates corporate counsel responsibilities from financial operations, Whittaker Corp. in Simi Valley has named Gerald E. Finnell as vice president and chief financial officer.

Finnell, until recently a partner and board member of big-six accounting and consulting firm KPMG Peat Marwick, takes over the CFO reins from Richard Levin.

Levin will continue to serve as vice president and general counsel for the company. He had held the posts of CFO and general counsel since joining Whittaker in May 1994.

In announcing the appointment of Finnell, Chief Executive Officer Thomas A. Brancati underscored the need to separate the CFO and legal counsel positions as the company builds both its aerospace and communications businesses.

“We have doubled in revenues over the past three years, requiring us to place added focus and emphasis on both the financial and legal aspects of our operations,” Brancati said. “We have an ambitious strategy to grow both revenue and profits, and our workload has increased accordingly.”

A certified public accountant, Finnell has held numerous professional leadership positions, including chairman of the Illinois State Board of Accountancy, chairman of the continuing education committee of the California State Board of Accountancy and vice president and member of the board of directors of the National Assn. of the State Boards of Accountancy.