IT staffing provider TSR Inc. (NASDAQ: TSRI) named Thomas Salerno as president, CEO and treasurer, the company announced March 24. Salerno had previously been named acting CEO of the Hauppauge, New York-based company on Jan. 27. However, the former top executive has filed a lawsuit against the company alleging breach of contract and breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing.

Salerno had served as managing director of the company’s TSR Consulting Services Inc., the firms’ IT consulting services subsidiary and largest business unit.

“The board and I are convinced that Tom can lead TSR through these uncertain times and on to its next stage of growth,” Chairman Bradley Tirpak said in a statement on March 24.

Salerno has more than 20 years of experience in IT consulting. He joined the company in 2011. His past staffing industry experience before joining TSR includes three years at Robert Half Technologies.

Separately, former CEO and Treasurer Christopher Hughes was terminated by the company in an email on Feb. 29, according to a court filing. This month, Hughes filed suit against the company, saying it terminated him with cause to avoid paying severance under his employment agreement.

“Defendant’s purported termination of plaintiff for cause is a pretext for terminating him without defendant having to pay plaintiff the severance payments to which he is entitled under the agreement,” according to the lawsuit.

The suit seeks damages of not less than $1 million plus interest, attorney fees and other relief.

Hughes had worked at the company for 34 years; his father had started the firm in 1969. The suit says he was acting in the best interest of the TSR. However, a proxy battle changed the makeup of the board with five board members stepping down in January. Hughes’ termination was made public earlier this month.