DI People: Cinemark, Brinks Home Security, Medical City Children's Make Leadership Announcements

Across North Texas, companies are promoting and hiring people to take on leadership positions within their organizations. Dallas Innovates covers prominent personnel moves in Dallas-Fort Worth businesses and nonprofits—from the newest startups to well-established companies. Here are the people moves tied to innovation and technology in the region.

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Cinemark promotes Jostrand to executive vice president

Jay Jostrand

Jay Jostrand has been promoted to executive vice president of real estate by Cinemark, the Plano-headquartered global movie theater company.

Cinemark said that in his new role, Jostrand will continue to manage all real estate efforts through the company’s 345-theater domestic circuit. That includes overseeing strategic investments and advances in expansion, amenities, maintenance, and productivity.

Cinemark’s business, comprised of various brands that also include Century, Tinseltown, and Rave, operates 554 theaters with 6,132 screens in 42 states domestically and 15 countries throughout South and Central America.

Brinks names Niles as interim chief executive

William Niles

Dallas-based Brinks Home Security announced that William Niles has been named interim chief executive officer, which follows the news that President and CEO Jeff Gardner had stepped down.

Monitronics International Inc. and its subsidiaries, which do business as Brinks Home Security, said the transition is effective immediately.

Before joining Brinks Home Security in September, Niles served as CEO of Ascent Capital Group Inc., the parent corporation of Brinks Home Security.

Niles has worked in the home security industry since 2010 and brings extensive experience to his new role, including expertise in the dealer and direct to consumer sales channels, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.

Gulesarian named medical director at Medical City Children’s Hospital Heart Center

Kristine Gulesarian

Renowned congenital heart surgeon Kristine J. Guleserian, MD, is now the medical director of Medical City Children’s Hospital Heart Center.

Guleserian, a board-certified thoracic and congenital heart surgeon, brings more than 20 years’ experience to her new position.

Among Gulesarian’s achievements is performing a heart transplant on the world’s smallest patient at the time. She currently chairs the Workforce on Congenital Heart Surgery for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the only woman to lead a congenital heart surgery program in the U.S.

Gulesarian also has been named a Top Doctor by U.S. News and World Report and a Best Pediatric Specialist in cardiothoracic surgery by D Magazine.

Anritsu Company selects Johnson as vice president and general manager

Robert Johnson has been promoted from assistant general manager to vice president and general manager of Allen-headquartered Anritsu Americas Sales Company (AASC).

In his new position, Johnson will be responsible for all AASC operations, including direct management of sales, marketing, business operations, and technical field support operations. AASC plans to implement market and support product strategies with the help of Johnson’s leadership.

Johnson has more than two decades of experience in mobile technology, operations, sales management, and marketing. He will use his past experiences as a leader at Anritsu, while looking ahead at emerging communication technologies that are possibly going to be integrated into a variety of industries, including AR, VR, transportation, energy, among others.

AASC is the U.S. subsidiary of Anritsu Corporation, a communications test and measurement solutions provider. The company works to create 5G and IoT solutions, as well as solutions for other wireline and wireless communication markets.

Viyu Network Solutions names new CEO

Chris Scott has joined Viyu Network Solutions, a Richardson-based provider of IT services and scalable cloud-based infrastructure implementation.

Scott founded Plano-based Netera Networks, which provided consulting and delivery for hybrid IT solutions. In 2017, it rebranded to Netsync Networks. The following year, Scott founded OSI Transformation Services, a trusted technology adviser. Now, he’s been tapped to grow Viyu.

“I’m extremely excited about leading a company that puts our clients’ needs first, and then develops technological solutions for their problems,” Scott said in a statement. “Continuing to grow our team with exceptional talent and staying nimble, while holding true to our roots of delivering unprecedented customer service will be the key to our continued success.”

Vistra Energy appoints two new board members

Arcilia C. Acosta and Lisa Crutchfield have been appointed to the Irving-based energy company’s board as independent directors.

Acosta currently operates Southwest Testing Laboratories and CARCON Industries, while also serving as the director of LegacyTexas Financial Group and Magnolia Oil and Gas. Crutchfield is the managing principal of Hudson Strategic Advisers, LLC, and is a director of Fulton Financial Corporation and Unitil Corporation.

While Acosta and Crutchfield are joining Vistra’s board, Geoffrey Strong and Bruce Zimmerman have decided to resign from it, so the board will remain at 10 members.

Vistra says it’s the largest competitive residential electricity provider in the country and the largest competitive power generator in the U.S. with almost 5 million customers.

Texas Health Mansfield names CFO

Stephanie Nelson

Stephanie Nelson is the new vice president and chief financial officer for Texas Health Hospital Mansfield, which is set to open later this year, D CEO reports. Nelson will start in April.

Currently, Nelson is the VP and CFO of Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos, Texas, where she’s been since 2015. Her career began in 1991 in Laredo, Texas at Mercy Regional Medical Center, where she worked as a controller, Will Maddox reports.

“Stephanie’s energy, expertise in the area of finance, and passion for healthcare will be a tremendous addition to our executive team,” Texas Health Mansfield CEO Kenneth Rose said. “We are thrilled to have Stephanie join our leadership team as we work to extend our mission to a new community.”

Goglia is named president of United to Learn

Carol Pierce Goglia

Carol Pierce Goglia has been named president of United to Learn, a North Dallas coalition of public elementary schools, private institutions, and community members that creates meaningful learning opportunities for every student to learn and lead.

The organization carries out its mission by building relationships across the community and forging bonds to share resources and eliminate gaps in opportunity and understanding, Goglia told Dallas Innovates.

Goglia previously lead marketing and communications for Communities Foundation of Texas.

“I’m excited for this new opportunity as it builds on much of what we do through CFT and aligns with my passions for education as the gateway to opportunity, youth development and my energy for building community movements to improve our city,” she said.

Butcher joins At Home Group’s board

John Butcher

John Butcher has been appointed an independent member of the board at Plano-based retailer At Home Group Inc., a home décor superstore.

Currently, Butcher is president and CEO of Minnesota-headquartered Caribou Coffee Co. Inc. He has more than two decades of experience in the retail industry.

Butcher has extensive merchandising expertise, including a background in design and sourcing.

Comerica Inc. announces two executive promotions

James Herzog

Dallas-based banking company Comerica Inc. announced that James Herzog has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer.

He has been serving as the interim CFO since September 2019 and will report to Curt Farmer, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Before being named CFO, Herzog was treasurer and was responsible for managing the various components of Comerica’s balance sheet, insurable risks, interbank trading, capital planning and special finance projects.

Stasie Kostova

Also, Stanislava “Stasie” Kostova has been named executive vice president and treasurer. She will report to Herzog.

Kostova joined Comerica in 2007 as senior vice president and director of Market Risk. In 2017, Kostova also assumed responsibility for asset/liability management, and was named assistant treasurer in 2018.

TeamSupport appoints Hendrick as CMO

Dallas-based TeamSupport, a provider of B2B-focused customer support software solutions, has announced Melissa Hendrick as its new chief marketing officer.

As the former VP of marketing at Dallas’ Yooz Inc. Hendrick comes to the role with more than two decades of marketing, sales, and operations experience. Prior to that, she was director of demand generation corporate marketing at Thomson Reuters.

In her new role, Hendrick will lead marketing efforts, which includes demand generation, growth, and customer experience.

“As buyer demands continue to change, B2B customer support, and the B2B customer experience as a whole, is imperative to SaaS success,” Hendrick said in a statement. “TeamSupport provides users with the technology they need to establish client relationships, reduce churn, drive revenue and develop customer loyalty. TeamSupport’s B2B SaaS technology along with the passion and dedication from the team opens a door of opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

PDR opens a Dallas office

Houston-based global design, architecture, and consulting firm PDR has named three professionals to lead its new Dallas office.

Leading the Dallas office is PDR Partner and Principal Marc Bellamy, who brings 20 years of experience in interiors, base building design, and real estate development. Bellamy, along with Senior Associate Justin Dezendorf, as project manager and architect, and Senior Associate Jenny Segsworth, registered interior designer, will head up local client projects, PDR said in a statement.

In Dallas, PDR has worked on projects for Fortune 1000 companies including Irving-based ExxonMobil, Dallas-based Texas Instruments and USAA since the firm’s founding in 1977. The firm said it is looking to hire “exceptional local talent.”

Fabiola Segovia joins the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association’s Board of Directors

Fabiola Segovia

The Dallas Hispanic Bar Association (DHBA) has appointed local attorney Fabiola Segovia to its Board of Directors. She will also serve as Director, a move that will continue DHBA’s efforts in voting rights and civic engagement.

Segovia was instrumental in creating and leading a partnership between the DHBA and the Hispanic National Bar Association. An attorney at Hamilton Wingo, LLP, Segovia brings years of experience to the DHBA. She also works with nonprofit March to the Polls, volunteers as a guest speaker in high schools, and is the first attorney from UNT Dallas College of Law to be inducted into the Mac Taylor Inn of Court.

“I’m honored to serve in this role and to continue to work with such a dedicated and accomplished group of leaders,” Segovia said in a statement. “The experiences and perspectives of our new Board members will help us identify and expand opportunities to teach about voting rights in the underserved Hispanic communities.”

KidKraft announces a new leadership team

KidKraft, a Dallas-based maker of toy and juvenile products, announced the addition of three executives to its leadership team.

Lawrence Writer joins as the new chief financial offer as part of KidKraft’s growth plan. He will be responsible for the finance, legal, and information technology functions with particular emphasis on international expansion and acquisition integrations.

Writer has previously served as chief operating officer and chief financial offer for Hillerich & Bradsby Co, the parent company of the famous Louisville Slugger baseball brand. Prior to that, he held roles with AlixPartners LLC, The Carlyle Group, and Goldman Sachs & Co.

George Benz has joined KidKraft as senior vice president of Marketing & eCommerce. A critical driver of KidKraft’s growth plan is to build the brand globally while leveraging superior digital marketing and consumer insights to drive the company’s expanding product assortment. Benz will oversee all the global marketing and digital consumer engagement.

A toy industry veteran, Benz comes from Mattel, Inc, where he spent 15 years in product development, brand management, digital marketing and eCommerce leadership roles. During his time there, he helped grow globally recognized brands like Fisher-Price, DC Entertainment, Hot Wheels, and Matchbox. He has also previously led eCommerce and omni-channel marking initiatives for Petsmart.com.

Lastly, Martijn de Bruijn joins KidKraft’s team in Holland as the European commercial director. KidKraft’s focus on significant international expansion includes de Bruijn. He will lead the company’s international sales efforts in Europe.

Previously, de Bruijn worked at Red Bull as the Sales Director. Before that, he held key account sales roles across several brands at Procter & Gamble Europe.

This article was updated on March 4, 2020.