Richard L. Yates was appointed senior vice president and corporate controller in August 2004. Yates joined Textron as vice president and controller in November 1995. He reports directly to Ted French, executive vice president and chief financial officer. He is responsible for overseeing external and internal accounting, financial reporting, and financial planning and analysis. He leads transformation-related finance activities, including the development of Finance Shared Services. Yates is also a member of Textron's Operating Committee and Transformation Leadership Team, comprised of the top executives of the corporation. Yates previously served as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Paul Revere Insurance Group, formerly a subsidiary of Textron, a position he had held since 1993. Yates joined Paul Revere in 1985 as vice president, controller and treasurer. In 1987, he was made vice president, treasurer, and chief financial officer. He retained these responsibilities and was promoted to senior vice president in 1991. Before joining Paul Revere, Yates was a partner with the accounting firm of Arthur Young & Company. Yates received a B.S. in accounting from Northeastern University, and attended Textron's Advanced Management Program. He has completed Textron's Global Leadership program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He is also a C.P.A. He is a member of the American Institute of C.P.A.s, the Manufacturers Alliance Finance Council II, the Massachusetts Society of C.P.A.s, the Financial Executives Institute and also serves on the Corporate Executive Board Controller's Leadership Roundtable. At Textron, Yates serves on the Finance Council, the Investment Committee, Benefits Committee and the Contributions Committee.