Data Systems Analysts promotes Foley to CEO

Data Systems Analysts has promoted its next chief executive from within the company’s own ranks in John Foley, who has been chief financial officer since he first joined in 2009.

Foley also will chair DSA’s board of directors and succeed Fran Pierce, who has led the company as chairman and CEO since 1991. Pierce will remain on the board as part of the transition that takes effect Feb. 1, DSA said Wednesday.

Pierce started at DSA in 1971, eight years after the company opened for business. She then became a vice president in 1979 and joined the board in 1980, the same year the company became an employee-owned firm.

Her long tenure as CEO included DSA’s acquisition of Project Performance Company in 2017 after spending several years of looking for a fellow midsized business to join forces with.

At the time, Pierce told us DSA had “gone down the path a few times in the last three-to-four years” regarding that search. This was DSA’s third acquisition in its history dating back to inception in 1963.

Foley added the title of president in 2018 on top of his CFO duties. His career prior to DSA also includes leadership roles at Cigna, Lockheed Martin and the eBay subsidiary Half.com.

DSA also announced several other senior leadership appointments in conjunction with Foley’s move up to CEO:

• Robert Wheeler is now chief technology and innovation officer. He will lead artificial intelligence, digital transformation and enterprise technology initiatives.
• Wayne Irwin is now vice president of programs at the Department of War, a name the Trump administration uses to identify the Defense Department.
• Eoin O’Driscoll is now vice president of critical infrastructure programs.
• Chris Guyton is now vice president of intelligence programs.
• Mike Emerle has added the treasurer title in addition to his current role as vice president of finance.