Harris Names New Chief Financial Officer

In the US, Harris Interactive has named Pavan Bhalla as its new Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, replacing Robert Cox who left the firm last year.

Since Cox's departure in November, Eric Narowski has held the post of Interim CFO - he now continues in his post of Principal Accounting Officer, SVP and Global Controller. After just five months with Harris, Cox left to take up the post of CFO of international payment and data processor Planet Payment.

Bhalla joins from Aon Corporation, where he served as VP and CFO of the multi-billion dollar HR outsourcing arm of Hewitt Associates. Before this, he was SVP of Finance for telecoms firm MCI, and spent more than seven years with BellSouth Corporation in a variety of executive positions. Earlier in his career, he was a member of the audit practice at Ernst & Young.

In his new role Bhalla reports to President and CEO Kimberly Till, and oversees the firm's global accounting, financial planning and analysis, corporate development, treasury and investor relations functions.

'Pavan is an exceptionally strong financial and strategic partner, with significant experience in corporate finance, international operations, and strategic planning at public companies, and a proven track record of delivering operational and financial results,' states Till. 'Our ability to attract someone with Pavan's talent and expertise speaks well to the significant opportunity that exists here at Harris.'

Bhalla added that he is looking forward to working with Till and her team, to rebuild revenue and return the firm to profitability.

Web site: www.harrisinteractive.com .