New CEO brings wide perspective: Michael Cangemi brings his financial, technological, editorial and business experiences and insights to FEI as the 75-year-old organization keeps evolving.

• Author: Heffes, Ellen M.
• Position: Chief executive officer, Financial Executives International - Cover story - Column

When you meet Michael P. Cangemi, likely the first thing you'd notice is his enthusiasm. Next, you sense his genuine interest in hearing what you have to say. Then comes his desire to give feedback--along with an example or analogy from his extensive professional and/or life experiences. For example, in Cangemi's thinking, you can compare leading an organization to playing 10 chess games--simultaneously. "You're tactical and strategic, and making moves with short-term and long-term implications--and all at the same time," he says.

In his new role as President and CEO of Financial Executives International (FEI), the 6-foot-plus, 58-year-old Cangemi has been quick out of the gate. At his FEI headquarters office in Florham Park, N.J., for just a few days at the time of this interview, he'd already been to the Washington, D.C., office and been the featured speaker at FEI Chapter meetings in New York and New Jersey, as well as having had several press calls and two photo shoots. He was planning to attend all three area leadership board meetings in February, in Dallas, Phoenix and Nashville--two of which are practically concurrent. And, you can read his first "President's Page" column on page 6. He says he can't wait to get to the office each day.

"FEI has an awesome reputation, and I am thrilled with the great opportunity provided me by Colleen's departure," he says--referring to Colleen Cunningham, his popular predecessor and FEI chief since April 2003--as he takes his turn in perpetuating the history and helping shape the future footprint of FEI. An FEI member since 1985, Cangemi had become more active over the past two years, serving on the Committee on Finance and Information Technology (CFIT), a natural place for him to contribute his wealth of experience.

For the first time in its storied 75-year history, FEI has a leader that--besides having an exceptional background in finance, audit and technology--also has had extensive exposure to editorial, publishing and media, a quality that could prove essential as FEI moves to capitalize on its vast intellectual property and the new technologies connected with content delivery.

Since 1987, Cangemi has been Editor-in-Chief of the Information Systems Control Journal, a publication of the 50,000-member Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), in which his regular column "Issues & Comments" has appeared.

Cangemi has also been deeply involved in volunteer associations--often in leadership roles--so he's well aware of, and sensitive to, the contributions (in both time and talent) of FEI's membership. And, uniquely for an FEI chief, Cangemi has extensive operating experience in a consumer-products environment--as a CFO and CEO--which has driven him to develop an intense customer focus.

He can barely discuss any subject or make a business decision without applying his customer-focused orientation. "The purpose of a...