Northrop picks new corporate VP, controller, CAO

Northrop Grumman has named Michael Hardesty corporate vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, reporting to James F. Palmer, corporate vice president and chief financial officer.

He replaces Kenneth L. Bedingfield, who has been named vice president, business management and chief financial officer for the company’s aerospace systems sector.

In his new position, Hardesty will serve as a financial advisor to senior management and the audit committee of the board of directors.

He will also lead corporate accounting operations, the company said in a release.

Hardesty is “a seasoned financial executive with strong public accounting experience," James F. Palmer said.

He was previously vice president of business management and chief financial officer for the company’s information systems sector.

Before that, he held leadership positions at the corporate and sector levels, including vice president, internal audit for the company, and vice president and chief financial officer of the company’s enterprise shared services and information technology solutions organizations, Northrop Grumman said.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern California.