New CFO named to lead Office Depot/Max

Office Depot’s new chairman and CEO Roland Smith enlisted a former colleague from the fast food industry to serve as CFO of the recently combined Office Depot and OfficeMax company.

Smith was named CEO and chairman at Office Depot last month and he moved quickly to name Stephen Hare as CFO. Smith and Hare worked together previously at several major quick service restaurant chains. Hare comes to Office Depot, Inc. from The Wendy's Company where he served as CFO from 2011 until September 2013. Prior to that he was CFO at Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc. from 2008 through 2011. Prior to joing Office Depot, Smith was CEO of Delhaize America, but prior to that was CEO of Wendy’s and the Wendy’s/Arby’s Group.

"Having worked closely with Steve on transforming businesses in the past, I know he brings to Office Depot, Inc. the knowledge and discipline needed to realize the synergies inherent in the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax," Smith said. "I am confident that Steve's financial skills and wealth of operations and management experience will enable us to be a more competitive and efficient provider of office products and services, and set us on a path for sustainable growth.

Hare replaces co-CFO Mike Newman, who has retired from the company after five years, and interim co-CFO Deb O'Connor, who has returned to her position as SVP of finance and co-chief accounting officer.