Bauer Steps Down as Hal Leonard CFO, Diekelman Hired as new CFO

Dan Bauer, long-time Hal Leonard senior vice president and CFO, has announced his retirement.

Keith Mardak, CEO of Hal Leonard, recounted Bauer’s time with the company and working with him over the years: “I cannot imagine where Hal Leonard would be today without Dan. His financial leadership, honesty, hard work and calm guidance have been invaluable to keeping the company going in the right direction all these years. So many of us have relied on Dan’s advice not only in financial matters but everyday dealings to keeping things running smoothly around the office. I wish Dan and his wife, Sharon, the best of everything possible in their retirement years.”

Since 1976, Bauer has worked full-time at Hal Leonard, first starting in the financial department in Winona, MN, working with Harold Edstrom, Everett Edstrom, and Roger Busdicker, the founders of Hal Leonard. In 1984, Bauer began serving as the number two person in the Winona financial department. By 1991, the position of head of the financial department was moved to the Milwaukee office, and Bauer accepted the position and moved his family to Milwaukee. For the past 27 years, Bauer has overseen the expansion of the financial, distribution and manufacturing areas of the company, and has helped cultivate numerous relationships with Hal Leonard partners around the world. He was awarded CFO of the Year by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2009. Bauer will continue to serve as a consultant with the company through the end of 2018.

Hal Leonard has announced the hiring of Debbie Diekelman to assume Bauer’s full duties. Diekelman most recently served as CFO at Champion Manufacturing, Inc., in Elkhart, Indiana. Diekelman brings more than 20 years of experience directing financial operations with strong experience developing systems to effectively integrate reporting, budgeting, and strategic planning.

“We are happy to welcome Debbie to our team,” said Larry Morton, president of Hal Leonard. “Her past experience with manufacturing and developing various corporate systems will surely be an asset as our company continues to grow and expand in the publishing, distribution and digital fields.”