Fayetteville firm names new CEO

Fayetteville-based capSpire hired Jim Kiser as its new CEO, a step toward growing its global footprint.

According to a news release, Kiser has more than 30 years of experience in technology and consulting services. He has held executive leadership positions in both public and private companies including Deloitte, SAP and SolArc.

Mike Scharf and Jeff Hardcastle founded capSpire in 2009. It’s a global consulting company that develops software for the energy industry’s commodity trading risk management sector.

“Jim is the right person to lead capSpire into the future,” Scharf said in a statement. “We will continue combining our knowledge of the commodities industry and passion for technology to navigate digital transformations in an ever-changing economy. Jim’s arrival will take our global team to even greater heights.”

capSpire has approximately 150 employees and nine offices across six countries. The company has 20 workers in Fayetteville, 90 in the U.S. and the rest in Europe, Australia and India.

Most recently, the firm opened an office in Bangalore, India, its first office in Asia.

Also recently, capSpire announced a partnership with Iowa-based convenience store chain Casey’s General Stores Inc. Gravitate, capSpire’s subsidiary for artificial intelligence products, will optimize fuel supply for all of Casey’s 2,400-plus locations, dispatch more than 100 Casey’s trucks and manage outside carriers.

The Gravitate product team has eight workers in Fayetteville.