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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Dave & Buster’s taps Coleman as SVP and chief marketing officer
Brandon Coleman III
Brandon Coleman III has been appointed senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Dallas-based Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.
Coleman will succeed Sean Gleason, who has served in the role since 2009. Gleason will continue with Dave & Buster’s in an advisory capacity through April 30, according to a statement.
Most recently, Coleman was president of Del Frisco’s Grille where he led a brand turnaround and achieved positive same-store sales growth.
Dave & Buster’s is the owner and operator of 136 entertainment and dining venues in the U.S.
Cyber Group promotes Shastri to chief technology officer
Sankalp Shastri
Sankalp Shastri has been promoted from senior vice president to chief technology officer at Dallas-based Cyber Group.
Shastri has been with Cyber Group for nine years, and during that time he has created measurable value for its customers, according to a statement. He has also helped the company grow to 14 times the size it was a decade ago.
In his new role, Shastri will be responsible for creating a technical center of excellence by building up other key employees in the company.
Ponton joins LandDesign in business development role
Marla Ponton
Professional engineer Marla Ponton has joined LandDesign’s Dallas-based team as a business development representative.
Ponton brings a multidisciplinary background to her new role, according to a statement.
LandDesign is a provider of planning, landscape architecture, and civil engineering. Ponton is bringing her knowledge of the local real estate markets, land development, and multifamily and commercial project needs to the team.
Djukic joins Plano’s SOLiD as a vice president
Slavko Djukic
Slavko Djukic has joined SOLiD, a Plano-based provider of cellular in-building and public safety infrastructure, as its vice president of product line management and technology for the Americas.
Through this role, Djukic will be responsible for driving SOLiD’s product go-to-market strategy and leading the vision and direction of new and existing product development. He is expected to work directly with the company’s sales department and customer base to figure out new products and applications required in the market, according to a statement.
Most recently, Djukic was Zinwave’s chief technology officer, during which he was responsible for setting and delivering the company’s wireless technology roadmap.
Kimberly-Clark’s Hsu to join Texas Instruments’ board of directors
Michael Hsu
Irving-based Kimberly-Clark Corp. chairman and CEO Michael Hsu has been elected to the board of directors for Dallas-based Texas Instruments Inc., effective April 1.
“His experience driving growth in competitive markets and leading a complex, multibillion-dollar global organization will be a valuable addition to our strategic discussions,” Rich Templeton, TI chairman and CEO, said in a statement.
Hsu brings more than 25 years of experience in the consumer products industry to his role on TI’s board.
Mr. Cooper adds Mujumdar to board of directors
Shveta Mujumdar
Dallas-based mortgage company Mr. Cooper Group announced the appointment of Shveta Mujumdar to its board of directors.
Currently, Mujumdar is the vice president of corporate development for business and financial software company Intuit.
According to a statement, Mujumdar has experience in the fields of software-as-a-service, consumer Internet, and mergers and acquisitions.
TCU names Watson new dean of AddRan College of Liberal Arts
Sonja Watson
Sonja S. Watson, Ph.D., has been named by Texas Christian University as the new dean for the AddRan College of Liberal Arts.
Watson will work to further the college’s mission and advance the university’s Vision in Action: Lead On strategic plan, according to a statement. Watson is expected to begin her new position on May 29.
Watson has an extensive background in academic administration, scholarly research, and the liberal arts, and is currently the associate dean of Academic Affairs for the College of Liberal Arts and an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Stark joins Reed Smith’s Dallas office as a partner
Nigel Stark
International law firm Reed Smith announced that Nigel Stark has joined the Dallas office as a partner in its Global Corporate Group.
Stark is a technology lawyer who advises on tech transactions and outsourcing, and is the sixth partner to join the firm in Dallas since the office opened in May 2019 with 16 lawyers.
Stark is a former partner at K&L Gates in Dallas. His addition brings the total number of Reed Smith lawyers in Dallas to 32, according to a statement.
Invitation Homes announces two EVP promotions
Jon Olsen
Kim Norrell
Dallas-based home leasing company Invitation Homes Inc. announced the promotions of two company leaders to the position of executive vice president.
Kim Norrell has been promoted to executive vice president and chief accounting officer. Norrell joined Invitation Homes in 2015 as its interim CAO. She started the company’s Project Management Office, and spent time working with information technology, and finance, planning, and analysis, before returning to the CAO role full time in June 2016.
Jon Olsen has been promoted to executive vice president of corporate strategy and finance. He joined Invitation Homes in 2012 and was previously the senior vice president of finance and head of capital markets, managing director, and co-head of asset management.
Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront names Peel as catering sales manager
Cammie Peel
Cammie Peel has been named catering sales manager at the Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront, a 231-room, Four Diamond waterfront property in Rockwall.
In her new role, Peel is responsible for business development, event coordination, and the execution of all related catering activities for corporate and wedding clients.
The Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront has more than 32,000 square feet of function space, as well as a training center that includes a 52-seat amphitheater and lakefront breakout rooms.
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R E A D N E X T
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