Companies Mentioned
Why It Matters
These leadership changes reshape financial strategy and signal each company’s priorities as they navigate growth, market disruption, and upcoming public offerings. Executives with diverse sector experience can accelerate transformation and investor confidence.
Key Takeaways
- •GM adds Lucid veteran to strategy and finance leadership
- •Warby Parker hires former Macy’s CFO as finance chief
- •Kraken dismisses CFO ahead of planned U.S. IPO
- •Designer Brands appoints seasoned retailer CFO, Sheamus Toal
- •Navan taps Lyft FP&A leader as new CFO
Pulse Analysis
CFO appointments have become a barometer for corporate strategy, especially as companies grapple with rapid industry shifts. General Motors’ selection of Claudia Gast, a former Lucid Motors strategist, underscores GM’s push to integrate electric‑vehicle expertise and technology partnerships into its core financial planning. Similarly, Warby Parker’s recruitment of Adrian Mitchell, who rose through Macy’s finance ranks, signals a focus on scaling operational efficiency and preparing for potential public market scrutiny.
In the high‑stakes world of crypto, Kraken’s abrupt CFO dismissal ahead of its U.S. IPO highlights the heightened scrutiny regulators and investors place on financial governance. Reassigning the role to a strategic advisor while hunting for a permanent replacement suggests the firm is prioritizing compliance and transparent reporting to win market trust. Parallel moves at Designer Brands and Navan illustrate how seasoned retail and tech finance leaders are being tapped to steer companies through post‑pandemic growth, cost control, and expansion initiatives.
These transitions reflect a broader talent migration where finance executives cross sector boundaries, bringing fresh perspectives to traditional and emerging businesses alike. For investors, the pedigree of new CFOs—ranging from EV startups to ride‑share giants—offers insight into a company’s strategic direction and risk management posture. As firms continue to adapt to digital transformation, regulatory pressures, and evolving consumer expectations, the CFO’s role remains pivotal in shaping sustainable growth and shareholder value.
CFOs On the Move: Week ending Feb. 13
Claudia Gast | General Motors
General Motors appointed Claudia Gast as deputy CFO and vice president of strategy, corporate development and technology partnerships, effective March 1. Gast will report to CEO Mary Barra for strategy and to CFO Paul Jacobson for corporate development and technology partnerships. She joins GM from electric‑vehicle startup Lucid Motors, where she was most recently senior vice president of strategy and business development. Gast previously was head of strategy and M&A at defense contractor AM General, and she also served as CFO and board director of Global Technology Acquisition Corp.
Adrian Mitchell | Warby Parker
Warby Parker named Adrian Mitchell as the eyewear company’s new finance chief. Mitchell most recently spent five years working at department‑store chain Macy’s, where he joined as CFO in 2020 and took on the additional role of chief operating officer in 2023. Earlier roles include managing director and partner of Boston Consulting Group, CEO of Arhaus and CFO, COO and interim CEO of Crate & Barrel. Mitchell succeeds Dave Gilboa, the company’s co‑chief executive officer, who was holding the role on an interim basis. Gilboa stepped in for Warby Parker’s longtime CFO Steve Miller, who left the company in October 2025 to become the CFO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
Stephanie Lemmerman | Kraken
Kraken has reportedly dismissed its finance chief, Stephanie Lemmerman, ahead of the crypto exchange’s planned U.S. IPO, according to Coindesk. She joined Kraken in November 2024 as chief financial officer from blockchain firm Dapper Labs, where she was CFO for over two years. Lemmerman will reportedly be moving into a strategic advisory role. Payward, Kraken’s parent company, now lists Robert Moore, formerly vice president of business expansion, as deputy CFO on its leadership page. Moore now oversees financial strategy, planning and reporting. Bloomberg Law reports the firm is looking for a new chief financial officer.
Sheamus Toal | Designer Brands
Designer Brands, the owner of retail chain DSW, named Sheamus Toal as executive vice president, CFO and principal financial officer, effective Feb. 16. Toal most recently worked at retailer The Children’s Place, where he was CFO and chief operating officer. Before that, he was EVP and chief financial officer of mattress and home‑furnishings company Saatva. Toal spent over 16 years in senior leadership roles at retailer New York & Company, including 12 years as CFO and later as chief executive officer. Toal replaces Mark Haley, who has been the interim principal financial officer. Haley will return to his role as senior vice president, controller and principal accounting officer.
Aurélien Nolf | Navan
Corporate travel‑management firm Navan hired Aurélien Nolf as its new finance chief, effective March 2. Nolf joins the company from Lyft, where he has been vice president of FP&A and investor relations for the last three years. Before that, he spent over 15 years at video‑game maker Electronic Arts, most recently as vice president of FP&A. Nolf succeeds Amy Butte, who left the company on Jan. 9. Butte took over as CFO in 2024 and helped lead its IPO in October. Navan’s chief accounting officer, Anne Giviskos, has been serving as interim CFO.
Joe Del Preto | Sprout Social
Joe Del Preto will resign as CFO of Sprout Social, a social‑media management and analytics software firm, on March 11. The company has started a search for his successor. According to an SEC filing, he is leaving to pursue another professional opportunity. Before joining Sprout as CFO in 2017, he was the global controller for Groupon and was the vice president of finance at Echo Global Logistics. He started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Kevin Byrne | Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Kevin Byrne was appointed chief financial officer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Byrne joins the nonprofit from Great Hearts Texas, a network of state‑chartered public schools, where he was vice president of finance and chief financial officer. He was earlier the finance chief of The Wesleyan, a continuing‑care retirement community. Other roles include senior leadership positions at McKesson, DJO, Argo Group, USAA and KPMG.
Matt Peterson | Branch
Workforce‑payments platform Branch named Matt Peterson as CFO. Peterson most recently worked at the gifting and rewards platform Snappy for over three years as finance chief. Earlier roles include senior vice president of finance at text‑message marketing solution Attentive and vice president of finance at edge‑cloud platform Fastly, where he helped guide its 2019 IPO.
Chris Phillips | HTeaO
Iced‑tea franchise HTeaO appointed Chris Phillips as chief financial officer. Phillips joins the company from sports‑bar chain Walk‑On’s Sports Bistreaux, where he has been head of finance and accounting since August 2024. His background includes senior leadership roles at fast‑food chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, where he was vice president of finance strategy, analytics and insights for two years, and at Darden Restaurants, where he spent 14 years, most recently as senior director of finance and strategy.
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