Judith Hartmann | Bayer AG
Bayer AG named Judith Hartmann as its next chief financial officer. She will join the board of management on March 1, 2026 and assume the CFO role on June 1, 2026 when Wolfgang Nickl retires at the end of May. Hartmann is currently an operating partner at Sandbrook Capital, which focuses on investments in climate infrastructure firms. Before Sandbrook, she held senior leadership roles at ENGIE, including group CFO and deputy CEO, and previously served as group CFO at Bertelsmann. Earlier in her career, she spent more than a decade at General Electric in finance and operational positions across the United States, Europe and Brazil.
Valentina Ficaio | Adecco Group
The Adecco Group appointed Valentina Ficaio as its next chief financial officer and a member of the executive committee effective Jan. 1, 2026. Ficaio joined the company in 2019 as CFO Iberia then became regional CFO for Southern and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Northern Africa. She currently serves as group senior vice president of finance, where she leads planning, controllership and strategy. Before joining Adecco she held CFO roles at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) and FCA Bank (now Leasys). Ficaio will succeed Coram Williams who is stepping down after five years and plans to become CFO of a German automotive company in early 2026.
Todd Wilson | BJ’s Restaurants
BJ’s Restaurants, the operator of California-based chains BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, BJ’s Grill and BJ’s Pizza & Grill, named Todd Wilson as its next CFO starting Dec. 15, 2025. Wilson most recently served as CFO of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers since 2022. Prior to that, he was CFO of Hopdoddy Burger Bar from 2018 to 2022. He also held senior finance leadership roles at Jamba Juice and Bloomin’ Brands earlier in his career.
Kurt Albert | Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts appointed Kurt Albert as interim finance chief, effective Tuesday. Albert has been serving as treasurer and head of financial partnerships and planning since May 2024 and previously held a series of senior roles within the company’s treasury and FP&A teams over more than 15 years. He steps into the role as current CFO Michele Allen departs to pursue an unnamed opportunity outside of the hotel sector. Allen will remain through the end of 2025 in an advisory capacity to support the transition while the company undertakes a search for a permanent CFO.
Benjamin Meisenzahl | Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams announced it will promote Benjamin Meisenzahl to the CFO spot, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Meisenzahl has been with the company for 22 years and currently serves as senior vice president of finance overseeing treasury, tax, finance transformation and global business services. Over his tenure, he has held finance and operational roles across the Paint Stores, Performance Coatings and Global Supply Chain units. He will succeed Allen Mistysyn, who will move into a short-term transition role before retiring after a 35-year career with the company.
Robert Stefani | Southwest Gas Holdings
Southwest Gas Holdings disclosed that Robert Stefani will exit his role as senior vice president and CFO on Dec. 1. Stefani has spent the last three years leading the finance organization as the company reoriented its portfolio toward becoming a pure play regulated natural gas utility. According to the company, the board has kicked off a search for his replacement, evaluating both internal and external candidates. The company said Stefani is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
Aly Madhavji | RYVYL / Roundtable
Roundtable and RYVYL said Aly Madhavji will become CFO of the combined company once their merger is completed. Madhavji is a Web3 investor with experience managing more than 200 blockchain infrastructure investments and deep ties across the global crypto investment ecosystem, the companies said. In the role, he plans to help guide the merged entity through its Nasdaq listing process and connect blockchain-focused investors with the platform’s strategy. Current RYVYL CFO George Oliva will shift to chief accounting officer for the merged business once the transaction closes.
Indrajit Ponnambalam | Nextdoor
Nextdoor appointed Indrajit Ponnambalam as CFO, effective Dec. 1. He most recently served as CFO at Premion and earlier spent five years at online dating platform operator Match Group in senior finance roles, including chief administrative officer and senior vice president of finance. He previously held finance positions at Time Warner Cable and AOL.
Reza Taleghani | Under Armour
Reza Taleghani will become the new CFO and executive vice president at Under Armour in February 2026. Taleghani has more than 25 years of global finance and operational leadership experience and most recently was EVP and CFO of Samsonite Group S.A. Prior to that, he worked as president and CFO of Brightstar Corp. and spent more than 15 years in senior roles across J.P. Morgan’s investment banking, commercial banking and asset management businesses. Taleghani will succeed David Bergman, who is stepping down as CFO but will remain with Under Armour through the first quarter of fiscal 2027 to support the transition.
Joe Kauffman | Deel
Deel appointed Joe Kauffman as president and chief financial officer as the global HR and payroll platform continues building toward a reportedly soon-to-launch IPO. Kauffman spent more than a decade at Credit Karma, now part of Intuit, where he held CFO, president and CEO roles. Before that, he held CFO and corporate development posts at two NYSE-listed companies, where he “developed deep expertise in managing disciplined, high-growth businesses within the public market framework,” according to Deel. Kauffman takes over finance leadership from co-founder Philippe Bouaziz who becomes executive chairman and chief strategy officer.
