CFO Shepard becomes interim CEO at Harte Hanks

• Harte Hanks (HHS -1.7%) has appointed CFO Douglas Shepard as its interim CEO and president, replacing Robert Philpott, who's left the posts and the board to pursue other interests.
• The board has put together a search committee to find a permanent CEO. Shepard will continue with his current duties while acting as CEO.
• Shepard's been with the firm since joining as CFO in December 2007.
• The company will take a pretax severance charge of $2M-$2.5M in connection with the transition.