MSU shifts financial office personnel

Hayes, who has worked in financial services at MSU for 30 years, replaces Kent Kay, who is moving to a new position at National-Louis University in Chicago. Kay has been CFO since 2003.

Hayes starts Aug. 1, the same day the Board of Governors is expected to approve her appointment. Her annual salary will be $111,128, according to a university news release.

The CFO advises MSU President Michael Nietzel on all matters pertaining to the management and operation of accounting, including investing, payroll, purchasing, property control, real estate and risk management. The CFO, who serves as the treasurer of the Board of Governors, also oversees accounting and investing for the MSU Foundation and the MSU Development Corp.

Hayes joined the university as a senior accountant in 1978, and she was named director of accounting in 1985. She became controller in 1998.

Foucart, former chief financial officer at Willow Brook Foods in Springfield, has been hired to fill the controller vacancy.

Foucart also will start Aug. 1, pending Board of Governors approval. His annual salary will be $96,000.

The controller supervises financial services and assists in the development of long-range financial planning by evaluating and making recommendations regarding various cash management programs.

Foucart’s job at Willow Brook was eliminated after Minnesota-based Cargill Inc. purchased Willow Brook earlier this year and closed two poultry processing plants in downtown Springfield. He had been the company’s CFO since January 1999.

Foucart was previously employed by Sunday House Foods Inc., Granada Corp./Granada Foods Corp. and Union Texas Petroleum, according to the release.