Spinnaker Support, the global market leader for SAP and JD Edwards third-party maintenance, co-sourcingSM, and consulting, announces today George Skidmore has joined the company as its Vice President, Global Tax and Regulatory Compliance. In this role, Mr. Skidmore will work closely with the Global Support team to grow Spinnaker Support’s resources and capabilities to provide custom tax and regulatory solutions for all of its JD Edwards and SAP customers.
“The regulatory compliance piece of our business is so critical, especially as we grow, that we knew we needed to find a powerhouse to fill this role,” said Matt Stava, Managing Principal for Spinnaker Support. “George brings so much experience in this field that we are excited for him to take us to the next level in providing customized solutions for our current and future customers. We couldn’t be happier that he decided to join our team.”
Mr. Skidmore brings over 25 years of international tax and accounting experience. He has significant experience in developing and managing Intellectual Property related to cross-border tax, treasury management, and tax and regulation research. Mr. Skidmore comes to Spinnaker Support after 6 years consulting to several manufacturing and mining companies, where he advised in areas such as cross-border M&A transactions, global treasury solutions, international entity reorganization, and foreign tax attribute and tax credit monetization analyses. Throughout his career, he has held key positions in the oil and gas industry as well as Wal-Mart and Arthur Andersen.
“I was attracted to the breadth and depth of the Spinnaker Support team. They are extremely experienced in the SAP and JD Edwards third-party maintenance sphere,” said Mr. Skidmore. “With the key infrastructure in place, Spinnaker Support has positioned themselves for rapid growth. I am very excited about their commitment to expand global tax and regulatory compliance support, and I look forward to working directly with the Spinnaker Support customer base to deliver customized solutions.”
NERA has promoted Vladimir Starkov to Vice President.
Dr. Starkov, based in NERA’s Chicago office, specializes in the areas of intercompany pricing and asset valuation. He has participated in engagements involving various tax controversy situations, negotiation and implementation support for Advance Pricing Agreements with tax authorities, design of intercompany pricing methodologies, valuation of intangible property transferred in intercompany transactions, including cost-sharing agreements, and preparation of transfer pricing documentation. He has conducted business valuation, including closely held businesses, and valuation of stock option compensation. He has also worked on a consulting engagement focused on improving internal controls over modeling of allowances for a bank’s bad debt losses.
Dr. Starkov holds a PhD and MA in economics from West Virginia University and an MS in environmental engineering from Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology, Russia.
Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. , the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, has announced the appointment of Maryanne Knott as Vice President of Tax.
Maryanne will hold responsibility for Dunkin’ Brands’ foreign, Federal, state and local tax strategies. She will report to Paul Carbone, Chief Financial Officer for Dunkin’ Brands.
Ms. Knott joins Dunkin’ Brands from Deloitte Tax LLP of Boston, where she served for more than 12 years in a number of roles, most recently as Director. She led engagement teams for public and closely-held companies in the retail, consumer products and telecommunications industries.
Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD), a diversified global leader in thermal management technology and solutions, announced today that, effective immediately, Mark Hudson has been named Vice President, Corporate Controller and Tax. Mark will be responsible for the preparation of and internal control over Modine’s financial statements and for consolidated financial reporting, including the preparation of all SEC periodic reports. He will also be responsible for Modine’s tax function, including establishing and ensuring the execution of global tax and planning strategies.
“We are pleased to welcome Mark to Modine,” said Michael B. Lucareli, Modine Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. “Mark will make a significant contribution to Modine and our leadership team through his vast experience in public accounting, corporate audit and corporate controlling.”
Prior to joining Modine, Hudson served as Vice President, Corporate Finance for Fiserv, Inc. in Brookfield, Wisconsin. He also served as Vice President, Corporate Audit for Fiserv and held multiple leadership positions for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.
Hudson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and is a Certified Public Accountant.
AllianceBernstein L.P. (AllianceBernstein), a leading global investment management firm, announced today that Jeffrey F. Kurpiel has joined its corporate tax team as Vice President and Tax Director. He manages the global tax function and reports to AllianceBernstein’s Chief Financial Officer, John C. Weisenseel. Kurpiel has more than 14 years of experience in corporate finance, working with leading asset management firms, hedge funds and private equity firms. In his role, Kurpiel will oversee all tax compliance and planning activities, such as managing the company’s U.S Federal and global tax reporting.
“Jeff’s deep understanding of the complex global and U.S. tax regulations confronting asset management firms of our size and his leadership capabilities make him an excellent addition to our team,” said Weisenseel.
Kurpiel joins AllianceBernstein from The Rohatyn Group, where he was responsible for the tax function of the management company as well as specific funds, planning and structuring for acquisitions, and directing all tax accounting and compliance aspects of the firm. Prior to The Rohatyn Group, Kurpiel worked at Citigroup, the TCW Group and Richard Welling & Co., respectively. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Loyola Marymount University, a Juris Doctor degree from Loyal Law School, and is a licensed CPA and a CFA Charterholder.
About AllianceBernstein
AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private clients in major world markets.
Discovery Communications today announced the appointment of media-industry tax management veteran Todd Davis as Executive Vice President, Global Tax, effective September 1, 2012, and reporting to CFO Andrew Warren.
As a senior member of Discovery’s Finance team, Davis will have global responsibility for the company’s tax department, providing leadership and proactive direction for global tax strategy, planning and compliance on a worldwide basis and in all jurisdictions, including the review of tax implications of new transactions and business ventures.
“Todd’s business intelligence and leadership abilities will be invaluable as we continue to grow Discovery’s business, both domestically and internationally,” said Warren. “Also, having worked with Todd at NBC Universal, I know firsthand that his deep understanding and experience in overseeing and managing the intricacies of global tax issues, specifically as they relate to companies in the media and telecommunications industry, make him the ideal candidate to lead Discovery’s tax function.”
Davis joins Discovery from Ernst & Young, LLP, where he co-led the global tax account for General Electric and GE Capital, as well as serving on the Media and Entertainment Industry team. Prior to that, Davis spent 10 years at NBC Universal, most recently as Executive Vice President, Senior Tax Counsel, where he was responsible for global tax department management, tax planning and tax reporting, including tax-related support of the NBC-Universal merger and Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal. Davis’ experience also includes more than 10 years at Arthur Andersen, LLP, including serving as a member of the Technology, Media and Communications Industry team.
Davis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the Stern School of Business at New York University and a law degree from the Fordham University School of Law. He is an Attorney at Law and Certified Public Accountant in New York.
Davis will be based in Discovery’s New York City office.
Alvarez & Marsal Taxand, LLC, a founding member of the first global organization of the world’s leading independent tax firms, announced that Jeffrey Olin has joined the firm as Managing Director in Chicago.
With more than 25 years of experience, Mr. Olin brings deep experience in international and domestic tax matters having advised clients on tax, legal, and accounting issues related to international investments. His areas of focus include: international tax planning, accounting and compliance, tax technology implementation, acquisition due diligence, treasury coordination, and cross-border planning. He also works extensively with global companies expanding their international operations – both inbound and outbound, and advises clients in technical areas including tax-efficient financing structures, foreign tax credit planning, earnings and profits computations, earnings stripping, and transfer pricing.
“Companies must get their tax house in order as 2013 promises to be a year of great change, regardless of the election outcome this fall,” said Robert N. Lowe, Chief Executive Officer of Alvarez & Marsal Taxand. “As a former corporate tax executive, Jeff understands the challenges companies are facing in this time of uncertainty and makes an invaluable addition to our team.”
Previously, Mr. Olin was Vice President – Tax for Fortune Brands, a $9 billion consumer brands conglomerate, where he successfully executed a tax-free spin-off of a major division (Moen / Master Lock), completed the divestiture of another (Titleist / Footjoy) and led the global tax function for the remaining company, Beam Global Spirits. Before that, he served as a national Managing Partner in international tax with Grant Thornton and was an international Tax Partner in Chicago with McDermott, Will &Emery and Arthur Andersen.
Mr. Olin, a CPA, earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, cum laude, from Carroll University, a juris doctor from Marquette University Law School, a LL.M. from DePaul University College of Law, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Federal District Court and the U.S. Tax Court. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer on international tax matters, and from 2002 through 2011, he served as an adjunct professor in the Master of Taxation (LL.M.) program at Chicago Kent Law School. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the American Bar Association (ABA) and the International Fiscal Association (IFA).
Selective Insurance Group has announced the promotion of Sarita Chakravarthi to Senior VP Tax.
Ms. Chakravarthi joined Selective in December 2006 as vice president, Treasury and Taxation. Prior to that, she served as a senior tax manager for Aetna Inc. Ms. Chakravarthi earned her Bachelor’s of Commerce from Madurai University in India; her Masters in Tax from the University of New Haven in New Haven, CT; and her M.B.A. from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT. She holds designations as a Certified Public Accountant (NJ – Inactive) and an Associate Chartered Accountant from the Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
