SALISBURY — Nelson Murphy, Catawba’s vice president for business and finance, will assume additional responsibilities with the start of the new academic year. He will also serve as the institution’s chief operating officer and be responsible for more broadly coordinating and executing operational activities related to information technology, enrollment management, development and communications.

Catawba President Brien Lewis made the announcement about Murphy’s expanded responsibilities at the Aug. 8 fall conference gathering of faculty and staff on campus.

As vice president for business and finance, Murphy already oversees the college’s budget, business office, facilities, human resources and public safety functions. With his new duties as chief operating officer, he will take on additional responsibility for more broadly coordinating and executing operational activities related to information technology, enrollment management, development and communications.

Current members of Lewis’ cabinet who are responsible for those aforementioned areas will continue to report directly to the president. This new “dotted line” reporting relationship to the chief operating officer will allow the president to focus more on strategic priorities for these areas as well as major fundraising activities. This operational focus will also expedite decision-making and improve efficiency as the president is away from campus more frequently for fundraising and resource development activities.

Catawba appointed Murphy as vice president of business and finance in January of 2015 to succeed retiring Chief Financial Officer Chuck Williams. Lewis said in announcing Murphy’s hiring that “Nelson has enjoyed a robust and varied career as a financial leader supporting a variety of domestic and international businesses.”

Murphy, who has comprehensive experience in many areas of senior financial responsibility, had 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 Corporation, Reader’s Digest Europe and 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 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.

Married to wife Carol, the couple are parents of two adult sons, Connor and Charlie.