Perot promotes top execs

Perot Systems Corp. is promoting its chief financial officer, Russell Freeman, to chief operating officer.

Freeman is only one of three Perot executives who will advance Aug. 15. The company is also promoting John Harper, currently vice president and director of corporate development, to CFO. Peter Altabef, president and chief executive, will expand his responsibilities by joining the executive committee of the board of directors.

Freeman, an 18-year veteran of Perot Systems who has been CFO since 2000, will provide leadership for the company's global business operations and he will be primarily responsible for executing business strategy. Prior to joining Perot Systems in 1989, he worked for Arthur Young & Company.

Harper will oversee the company's global financial functions, including financial planning, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, treasury, tax, accounting and new business pricing. He brings more than 23 years of business experience to his new role, the past 14 with Perot Systems. Since 1999, he has led the corporate development group. Under his leadership, Perot Systems acquired 15 companies that currently contribute more than $1 billion of annual revenue.

Prior to his corporate development role, Harper served as Perot Systems' treasurer, where he helped lead the company's initial public stock offering and spearheaded efforts to strengthen the company's financial performance.

Perot Systems of Plano, Texas, ranks ranks No. 60 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.