Northrop Grumman taps new CFO

Northrop Grumman has named Kenneth Bedingfield corporate vice president and chief financial officer, replacing James Palmer, who will be retiring in 2015.

In his new role, Bedingfield will be responsible for the company’s overall business management function and activities including accounting; treasury; contracts and pricing; financial planning; tax; internal audit; investor relations; and trust administration and investments, the company said in a release.

Bedingfield will also become part of Northrop Grumman’s Corporate Policy Council.

Palmer will continue as a corporate vice president until his retirement in the summer of 2015. He has been with the company for eight years.

Bedingfield joined Northrop Grumman in 2011, most recently serving as vice president, Finance, in the corporate office. Before Northrop, he worked at KPMG LLP as national client leader of the company’s U.S. aerospace and defense audit practice.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland at College Part. He is also a CPA.