New Dixie Chopper President and CEO Gary Morgan certainly hasn't been playing games since taking over company reins last September.

He has been tough and straightforward, tackling issues head-on amid a turbulent economy and a sluggish manufacturing environment.

But now he's game for a new approach. And Monday, Feb. 16 (Presidents Day, no less), Morgan introduced the man who comes aboard as the new Dixie Chopper vice president of operations and chief financial officer (CFO).

"I've been telling everyone," Morgan said, "that starting today, we're all going to be playing a game of (drumroll, please) ... 'Simon says'."

That's because the new CFO administering financial matters and operations will be Simon P.D. Wilson, a 35-year-old Pennsylvania man, who -- like Morgan -- comes to Dixie Chopper after a career at New Holland Ag.

"I have held positions in many different functions, and hope my past experience can be very useful for Dixie Chopper," Simon said simply. "My goals are to strengthen the company and to help it profitably grow."

To that end, Simon says his "key focuses will be on inventory and continuing the implementation of lean manufacturing."

A 1997 graduate of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, he was a finance and marketing major.

His most recent position at New Holland Ag in New Holland, Pa., was North American operations director. He was in charge of commercial sales support organization for New Holland Ag North America, managed a working capital budget of $900 million and was responsible for annual sales revenue of $1.7 billion.

Prior to that role, Wilson served in such New Holland capacities as North American after sales manager, Northeast U.S. field sales manager and under 100-hp tractor training manager.

He started his business career at New Holland?s branch in Guelph, Ontario, where he was sales manager for the Guelph Commercial Business Unit.

Wilson, wife Michelle and their 20-month-old son Noah will be moving to Indiana from their previous home in Pennsylvania in April.