Sites in Transition: Conclusion of Week May 2nd
Welcome to the Game-Changers:
Peggy Alford, the New eBay CFO
Digital marketplace giant eBay has some exciting news to share! Starting May 12, 2025, Peggy Alford will take on the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), succeeding Steve Priest. Priest, who's been with the company since 2021, will continue his tenure until July 31 in an advisory role.
Why Alford, you ask? Well, Alford has clocked impressive years in the tech and finance sectors, holding key positions in prominent companies. Her top gigs include:
- PayPal EvP: Alford formerly served as Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Merchant Services at PayPal, a role that placed her at the helm of revenue-generating teams and merchant partnerships.
- Facebook Board Nominee: In 2025, she earned a spot as a nominee on Facebook’s board (pending shareholder approval). If approved, she would become the first African-American woman on its board, thereby aiding California's diversity mandate.
- eBay CFO Appointment: Most recently, she's been appointed as eBay’s CFO, taking the reins from Priest. Alford will engage in a transition period starting May 5 to ensure a seamless handover with CEO Jamie Iannone.
Alford brings a unique blend of financial strategy, global sales leadership, and diversity advocacy to the table. Exciting times ahead for eBay as Alford shapes its future through strategic collaborations and innovative technologies!
ADP's Peter Hadley Steps In as Finance Chief
In the realm of human resources solutions, ADP has also made move. Peter Hadley, who has been with the company since 2002, takes on the mantle of CFO on July 1. Hadley has donned several senior executive roles at ADP, including as Corporate Vice President and Treasurer, a position he's held since 2022.
A few highlights of Hadley's career involve his:
- Leadership roles at KPMG in the United Kingdom and Arthur Andersen in Australia.
- Tenure as President of Asia Pacific for ADP.
- Our website for ADP's Global Enterprise Solutions and Employer Services International.
Hadley steps in to fill the shoes of Don McGuire, who'll be around until September 30 to help with the transition.
Mars Shakes Things Up with Scott Gray
Candy and confectionery giant Mars has announced the appointment of Scott Gray to the newly created role of deputy CFO. Gray, who hails from coffee and tea company JDE Peet’s, will report to Claus Aagaard, Mars's CEO.
Gray's financial expertise includes senior roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev and Deutsche Bank, among others. With a dynamic career spanning over 20 years, Mars seems to have found the perfect fit in this experienced executive.
State Street Welcomes John Woods on Board
Mark Keating has served as interim CFO at State Street since February. However, the financial services titan has now found its new CFO in John Woods. Woods, who will join State Street in late August, brings a wealth of experience from positions such as Citizens Financial Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, and JPMorgan Chase.
Changes in the Tech World:
Sydney Carey Takes the Reins at Avalara
Cloud-based tax compliance automation provider Avalara has a new chief executive officer—Sydney Carey. Carey, who was previously the CFO of Talkdesk, has held several senior leadership roles over the past 20 years. Her impressive portfolio includes stints at Sumo Logic, Zscaler, MongoDB, and Duo Security, among others.
Mike Berry Joins MongoDB as CFO
In the realm of data infrastructure, Mike Berry has decided to leave his position as CFO of data infrastructure firm NetApp to become MongoDB's new CFO, starting on May 27, 2025. Berry brings with him 30 years of experience from companies like McAfee, FireEye, Informatica, and Solarwinds.
Financial Shuffles and Resignations
Mathew Ellis Resigns from Accel Entertainment
Mathew Ellis, the CFO of gaming operator Accel Entertainment, has announced his resignation, effective May 9. Mark Phelan, Accel’s president of U.S. gaming, will step in as acting CFO until a permanent replacement is found.
Cameron Paterson Joining Aris Mining as CFO
Cameron Paterson, who has been with Pan American Silver for the last 11 years, has been appointed to the role of CFO at mining company Aris Mining. Paterson will replace Richard Orazietti starting in July.
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- Peggy Alford's transition from PayPal EvP to eBay CFO demonstrates a significant shift in finance leadership within digital marketplaces.
- The retirement of Steve Priest from eBay CFO role in July 2025 presents an opportunity for risk analysis and strategic planning for the company.
- The financial markets will be monitoring the bull trends, as more experienced executives like Peter Hadley join ADP as CFO in July 2022.
- Mars's decision to bring in Scott Gray from JDE Peet’s as deputy CFO indicates a strong margin of growth for the confectionery giant.
- State Street's appointment of John Woods as CFO, arriving in late August, suggests a potential bullish outlook for the finance business sector.
- The appointment of Sydney Carey as Avalara's CEO signifies a significant shift in the tech world, and her extensive career holds potential benefits for the tax compliance automation provider's future.
- The resignation of Mathew Ellis from Accel Entertainment CFO role creates a vacancy and calls for careful financial analysis and executive recruitment to hold the company's position in the gaming industry.
