Catawba College has appointed a new chief financial officer.

College President Brien Lewis announced that Nelson Murphy of Barrington, Illinois, will succeed Chuck Williams. Williams will retire at the end of December, and Murphy begins work as vice president for business and finance Jan. 5.

“Nelson has enjoyed a robust and varied career as a financial leader supporting a variety of domestic and international businesses,” Lewis said as he announced Murphy’s hiring. “He has impressed us both with his breadth of experience working for some top-notch internationally known companies and with his enthusiasm for the next chapter of opportunities awaiting him at Catawba. His colleagues here will find him a consummate professional with an engaging personality. We very much look forward to putting his many talents to work at the college.”

“The opportunity to engage in such meaningful work at an institution of higher education like Catawba is important to me,” Murphy said. “I’ve had some terrific opportunities in my career, but this new chapter at Catawba is one that I look forward to with great anticipation. I received my undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and lived in Winston-Salem for a number of years, and frankly, am thrilled to return to North Carolina.”

Murphy, who has comprehensive experience in all areas of senior financial responsibility, has worked most recently as vice president of international finance for Syniverse Technologies, Inc. in Contern, Luxembourg. Prior to joining Syniverse, Murphy worked in senior financial roles for Northrop Grumman Corp., including serving as senior director of treasury and risk management for its Electronics Systems sector, and vice president of business management for its Defensive Systems Division.

Murphy has also served as vice president and chief financial officer for Reader’s Digest Europe based in London, and as chief financial officer for Telegis Networks, Inc,, a venture capital-backed business in Los Gatos, Calif.

Murphy began his career with AT&T where he worked for nearly 20 years largely supporting their Consumer Communication Services and Network Systems businesses throughout the world. This included a London-based role as vice president of finance for AT&T Europe/Middle East/Africa directing financial operations in 27 countries throughout the region. He also served as vice president and chief financial officer for AT&T International, based in Chicago and as chief financial officer for AT&T Latin America based in Miami, Fla.

Murphy earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting from Wake Forest University. He completed the Darden Executive Education program through the University of Virginia.

He and wife Carol are parents of two adult sons, Connor and Charlie.