Scient Taps New CFO

Tortoroli takes over the top fiscal post at New York-based Scient two months after the company merged with iXL Enterprises, an Atlanta-based e-services firm. In addition to Young and Rubicam, Tortoroli has held executive positions at Pepsico and KPMG.

Tortoroli joins a company that has been treading gingerly through the dot-com meltdown. Before the November merger with iXL, Scient was among the high fliers of e-solution providers. But since the deal, Scient's stock has ranged from 26 cents per share to 49 cents per share. At midday on Jan. 2, shares were at 44 cents.

On Dec. 21, Scient said it would eliminate 180 positions. Company executives said the cuts stemmed from post-merger integration, as well as "the challenging business marketplace."