CNH Global N.V. last week appointed Richard Tobin chief financial officer effective March 8. Tobin comes to CNH from SGS Group, a leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, where he was chief financial officer since 2004. Before that time, Tobin was SGS’s chief operating officer in North America.

Tobin will take over from Steve Bierman, who has been the interim CFO of CNH since June 23, 2009. Bierman, who is also president of CNH Capital, will now be able to focus his efforts solely on the company’s financial services’ businesses.

“Our management team has responded well to the challenging economic conditions that we have all faced,” said CNH president and CEO Harold Boyanovsky. “One of the critical factors in weathering such a storm is strong leadership. I thank Steve Bierman for having helped the organization in filling the dual roles and I welcome Richard Tobin to the team. His experience with as international a group as SGS will prove invaluable as we grow CNH’s global coverage.”

Headquartered in Burr Ridge, Ill., CNH Global N.V. is a world leader in the agricultural and construction equipment businesses.