DoubleClick CFO to Depart

Online advertising leader DoubleClick is seeing some shifts at the top of its executive ranks, as Stephen Collins, the company’s chief financial officer, steps down at the end of the week to take a more strategic role, eventually leaving the company next year.

The vacancy will be temporarily filled by Bruce Dalziel, the current VP of finance and operations for the company’s technology, data and research businesses. Dalziel will carry the torch as acting CFO until a replacement can be named.

Collins will continue to work with DoubleClick through the end of the first quarter of 2002, and his responsibilities will revolve around strategic initiatives — so far unspecified. Collins will report directly to chief executive officer Kevin Ryan.

There has been no indication that the senior staff member of five years was asked to resign due to his performance or to changes in the company’s fortunes. According to Collins and DoubleClick, his decision to leave was motivated strictly by changing personal and professional goals.

“My new role in the company will allow me to focus on other priorities,” including more time with family, Collins said.

“He wanted to get away from the day-to-day responsibilities that go with being CFO,” added DoubleClick spokesperson Jennifer Blum, who said Collins wanted “to be involved with strategic planning and the overall direction of the company.”

Collins was one of DoubleClick’s first 50 employees, and, according to Ryan, he has taken a leading role “in helping the organization grow to a global corporation.”

In the past six months, Collins has shown some interest in stepping outside the bounds of his CFO job. He’s taken on other responsibilities, including working with the technology department as interim chief information officer.

Interim CFO Dalziel joined DoubleClick last year as VP of financial planning, analysis and investor relations. Prior to DoubleClick, he spent 14 years at Prudential in key executive roles in the US and Asia.