ArcBest announces management changes, new ‘innovation’ post

Michael Newcity, the chief financial officer at Fort Smith-based ArcBest Corp., will take a new role of chief innovation officer and president of ArcBest Technologies beginning Jan. 1. David Cobb will step into the role of CFO.

Newcity served as CFO since 2010. In 2013, he became senior vice president and chief information officer as his responsibilities were expanded to oversee corporate information technology and economic analysis, which are now part of the ArcBest Technologies function.

During his 20-plus year tenure with ArcBest, Newcity has been involved in several efforts to create or improve e-commerce, market research and forecasting and planning. The company has been recognized for information technology work under Newcity’s direction in a number of publications, including CIO and InformationWeek.

Newcity began his career with the company in 1993 serving ArcBest’s information technology subsidiary, Data-Tronics Corp. (now ArcBest Technologies). He also served as manager of E-Systems & Market Development and manager of E-Commerce at ABF Freight and director of E-Systems & Emerging Technologies and director of Economic Analysis at ArcBest.

“Creating a dedicated center for technology and business  innovation across all of the ArcBest companies will enable us to continue serving our customers across the supply chain in the way they expect, with ‘The Skill & The Will’ to tackle their most complex challenges,” ArcBest President and Chief Executive Officer Judy McReynolds said in the statement issued Friday (Dec. 19). “While Michael Newcity now devotes his sole attention to this area, David Cobb’s experience in finance and accounting at ArcBest and other companies will ensure a seamless transition for investors and other financial stakeholders.”

Since 2006, Cobb has served as vice president-controller at ArcBest, adding the duties of chief accounting officer in 2010. The replacement process for his previous role is underway.

Before joining ArcBest in 2006, he was vice president-controller for Smith International Inc., a publicly held, international oilfield service company, which is now part of Schlumberger Limited. He also served seven years with the public accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Houston. Cobb, a graduate of Abilene Christian University, is a Certified Public Accountant in Arkansas and Texas.