UA financial chief leaves for Texas job

FAYETTEVILLE — The top finance officer at the University of Arkansas will depart after less than 15 months on the job.

Chris McCoy, 57, is leaving UA to take over Oct. 28 as chief information officer for the University of North Texas System and its main campus, the University of North Texas in Denton, according to a new hire announcement earlier this week.

McCoy joined UA in 2015 as the university’s chief information officer. In August 2018, he began as vice chancellor for finance and administration following the university’s internal search to replace Tim O’Donnell, who announced his retirement. Chancellor Joe Steinmetz appointed McCoy to the role, at the time describing McCoy’s tech background as an asset during a shift to what is known as an enterprise resource planning system. The technology, in the process of being deployed at every UA System campus, will overhaul payroll, procurement and other management systems.

McCoy’s last day at UA will be Oct. 22, said UA spokesman Mark Rushing.

Michael White, associate vice chancellor for financial affairs since April 2018, will take over as the university’s interim top finance officer, Rushing said. White joined UA in 1998 as associate controller.

A national search to replace McCoy will involve an advisory committee and be chaired by Randy Massanelli, UA’s vice chancellor for governmental relations, Rushing said.

Technology in higher education is growing at “an astonishing pace,” McCoy said.

He said he wasn’t looking to leave UA. But he said a query from the former UA top human resources officer, Barbara Abercrombie — now in that role with the University of North Texas System — asking if he knew of any recruiters eventually led to talk about whether the open position in Texas might be a good fit.

McCoy said he’s drawn to the challenge of leading change at multiple campuses, describing how the role of technology in higher education has increased over time.

“When I started 20 or 30 years ago, it was just these tiny little pockets of technology where you had to focus on. Now it’s pervasive,” McCoy said, praising the information technology community at UA.

McCoy earned $260,000 yearly following his appointment last year to the role of top finance administrator, a UA spokesman said at the time.

Rushing said White will earn $214,500 “on a shortterm basis” while working as the interim finance leader, up from White’s current salary of $171,600.