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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Exxon Mobil Corporation gets a new chief financial officer

Kathryn Mikells

Irving-headquartered oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil has elected Kathryn Mikells as its new senior vice president and chief financial officer following the news that Andrew Swiger was retiring.

Effective Sept. 1, Swiger will step down after more than 43 years of service. He first joined the company as an operations engineer in 1978, holding a series of upstream and corporate assignments before moving to leadership roles at Exxon’s divisions in Singapore, Canada, and London. He has served as principal financial officer since 2013.

Mikells joins ExxonMobil from Diageo plc, where she has been chief financial officer and a member of the board of directors since 2015. There, she was responsible for strategy, investor relations, supply chain, procurement, and finance. She has also held the role of CFO at Xerox, ADT, Nalco, and United Airlines.

“I’d like to thank Andy, both personally and on behalf of the board of directors for his many years of dedicated service, and wish him all the best in his retirement,” Darren Woods, Exxon’s chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “We welcome Kathy to ExxonMobil and look forward to the perspective and experience she brings as we work together to deliver on our strategies and increase shareholder value.”

Hyosung America names a new chief marketing officer

Brad Nolan

Irving-based Hyosung America, the manufacturer of ATMs and TCRs, has added Brad Nolan to its team as the new executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

Most recently, Nolan was the executive vice president of Allpoint Solutions at Cardtronics, a role in which he led network management and the design and delivery of new technology that enabled financial institutions and retailers to provide financial access to customers. Before that, he spent more than two decades at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In his new role at Hyosung, Nolan will oversee all product marketing efforts to keep pace with the company’s commitment to innovation and customer experience.

“We’re pleased to welcome Brad to the Hyosung family. His extensive experience in the Financial and ATM markets will provide valuable insight and will allow our company to continue our upward trajectory as the fastest-growing ATM manufacturer in the United States,” Hyosung America CEO Hee-Eun Ahn said in a statement.

Brinks Home appoints a chief people officer

Dinesh Kalwani

Dallas’ Brinks Home, a smart home security provider, has promoted Dinesh Kalwani from lead of sales operations to the new chief people officer.

Kalwani has a background in business process optimization, data analytics, and developing scalable sales strategies. For the past year, he has worked to optimize Brinks’ organizational structure; improve the experience for employees, vendors, and authorized sales partners; and implement the data hub. Now his goal at Brinks will be to continue creating profitable accounts and retaining customers for life. Prior to joining the company, Kalwani was vice president of Business Intelligence and Systems at Omnitracs.

“As our new chief people officer, Dinesh Kalwani will act as a Transformation Agent, helping us to continue to grow and scale,” William E. Niles, CEO of Brinks Home, said in a statement. “Since joining us last year, Dinesh Kalwani has already helped us to leverage the power of Big Data, build cross-functional teams, and improve our sales operations, and I look forward to seeing him continue those efforts in his new role.”

Medecision shakes up its senior leadership team

Quyen Nguyen Haelle

Dallas-based Medecision, which offers integrated health analytics and software to health plans and value-based providers, has added Quyen Nguyen-Haelle and Pavel Grebenshikov to its team as the new chief financial officer and chief technology officer, respectively.

Medecision said the hires, along with the recent appointment of Kenneth Young as president and CEO, represents its commitment to developing capabilities and accelerating growth that better serve its customers and their members and patients. The duo brings a combined 35 years of experience in strategic financial planning, business intelligence, digital platform modernization, and cloud transformation programs to the company.

Pavel Grebenshikov

Nguyen-Haelle most recently served as vice president at Tandigm, where she was responsible for business performance and intelligence and strategic financial planning and analysis. She has a passion for growth and operational excellence, along with expertise leading finance operations from strategy to administration.

Grebenshikov joins Medecision from EPAM Systems, where he was vice president of technology solutions. He has more than 20 years of experience in executing highly complex digital platform modernization and cloud transformation programs. At Medecision, he will lead technology operations from strategy to delivery.

“We’re delighted to have Pavel and Quyen join us at this critical time in the growth of our company. Their expertise and experience position them perfectly to oversee the development and expansion of our solutions,” Young said in a statement. “By taking a critical look at how the company is organized, and the solutions we deliver to our customers today and in the coming years, we’re shaping and positioning the company for future growth and success.”

Cyber Group gets a principal

Allen Baumbach

Dallas-based software service company Cyber Group is strengthening its financial services practice by adding industry veteran Allen Baumbach to its team as a principal.

Baumbach has more than 25 years of experience in the tech industry, including software development, program management, and strategic innovation. Previously, he has led large initiatives across a broad spectrum of clients in the state & federal government, transportation & logistics, financial services, and retail. He joins a practice that has doubled in size in the last six months and is now primed for increased investment.

“Allen brings a wealth of experience across several industries with a focus on Innovation in Financial Services. He was instrumental in establishing and running the Innovation Lab for a large local Bank and will bring our customers real-world experience leveraging AI/ML, FinTechs and other emerging technologies to increase Profitability, Efficiency and Customer Experience,” Rob Palacios, CINO and EVP at Cyber Group, said in a statement.

Signify Health adds new c-suite executives

Erin Kelly

Sam Pettijohn

Dallas- and New York-based Signify Health, a value-based healthcare platform, has made two moves to strengthen its leadership team: Sam Pettijohn as chief growth officer and Erin Kelly as chief compliance officer.

In his new role, Pettijohn will lead the company’s continued growth as it expands its suite of offerings and presence across the public and private healthcare markets. He was most recently the SVP of Client Relationships at Cerner Corporation, a role in which he was responsible for the sales, delivery, and sustainment of client relationships that represent more than $1 billion in total annual revenue. 

Kelly will be tasked with leading the development and implementation of policies and procedures that ensure compliance with regulation and legal requirements. She has a breadth of experience managing complex healthcare business, regulatory, and legal issues, having most recently served as the senior legal counsel at CVS Health/Aetna Inc. supporting strategic enterprise initiatives. 

Insala gets a new chief executive

Vicki Foley

Dallas- and Fort Worth-based Insala, a global provider of talent development and career management solutions, announced that the Board of Directors has chosen Vicki Foley as its new CEO, succeeding Co-Founder Phillip Roark.

Foley has experience in the human capital solutions industry, specifically in HR technology, global business development, and product innovation. Throughout her career, she has worked at premier companies—LHH, ABB and Hyatt Hotels—and overseen the portfolios of Fortune 100 clients, building practice area capabilities, and overall business delivery.

“I want to extend my gratitude to Mr. Roark for his vision and leadership and wish him much success as he embarks on his passion as a social entrepreneur. Under Mr. Roark’s leadership, Insala provided technology to more than 7,500 companies, and positively impacted more than 3,000,000 leaders and employees,” Maan Hamdan, chairman of the Board of Insala, said in a statement. “I welcome Ms. Foley who will further build on Insala’s vision to improve careers and lives with innovative technology solutions.”

Jackson Spalding gets a new Dallas lead

Rachel Vaughan

Atlanta-based Jackson Spalding, a leading PR and integrated marketing agencies, has promoted Rachel Vaughan to lead its Paid Media team from Dallas.

In her new role, Vaughan will oversee the management and growth of the agency’s Paid Media offerings while helping clients to drive business results through digital and traditional advertising channels. The move comes at a time when the agency’s Paid Media capabilities are aggressively expanding, specifically in digital channels, to ensure every campaign can be tailored for maximum impact.

“Paid media acumen is essential to our identity as an integrated agency, and Rachel brings strategic firepower, presence with clients and deep digital knowledge, all of which will be huge assets as we pursue a vision of fiercely strategic and fiercely creative multi-channel work,” JS partner Randall Kirsch said in a statement. “Rachel also is genuinely passionate about growing our Paid Media services and client footprint, and she has the business smarts to make it happen.”   

Learfield IMG College names a chief revenue officer

John Brody

Plano-based Learfield IMG College, a media and technology services company in intercollegiate athletics, has appointed John Brody to the role of chief revenue officer. 

Brody has more than two decades of senior leadership success in sports, media, and entertainment. He most recently served as the executive vice president, global head of sales and partnerships, and head of international for World Wrestling Entertainment, in which he was responsible for significant partner revenue growth of 150 percent during the past five years. Before that, he was a senior vice president at the NFL. In his new role, Brody will lead Learfield IMG College’s overall sales organization dedicated to multimedia rights.

“John has a phenomenal background of growth and disruption in sports and media sales, which aligns perfectly with how we’re transforming our company and delivering a host of new revenue opportunities to our university partners,” CEO Cole Gahagan said in a statement. “His experience, deep relationships and understanding of the sports and entertainment space and evolving media landscape are unparalleled in our industry, and we’re thrilled to have him as our new CRO.”

Ranger Investment Management appoints a head of marketing and client relations

Marta Cotton

Dallas-based Ranger Investment Management, a boutique investment manager that specializes in small- and micro-cap U.S. growth strategies, has named Marta Cotton as its new head of marketing and client relations. 

In her new role, Cotton will be a partner and serve on the firm’s seven-member leadership committee. She joins Ranger Investments after a decade at Matarin Capital Management, in which she was a principal and director of client development. There, she helped increase assets under management to $1.6 billion from $13 million. Before that, she spent 16 years at Goldman, Sachs & Co.

“We’re thrilled to have Marta join our senior ranks,” Conrad Doenges, chief investment officer and portfolio manager for Ranger Investments, said in a statement. “Marta has an exceptional background, with many years of investment management and capital markets experience, and she will be a major asset to our firm and our clients.”

Avocados From Mexico appoints two key executives

Ivonne Kinser

Irving-based nonprofit marketing organization Avocados From Mexico has promoted two leaders to prepare for a transformative future: Ivonne Kinser and Ana Ambrosi.

AFM has a mindset rooted in innovation and diversity. Of its 34 employees, 60 percent are women, making for a gender-balanced leadership team powered by its Female Leadership Initiative.

Kinser, as the new VP of Marketing and Innovation, will now have full responsibility over AFM’s marketing department. With the consolidation of digital and brand marketing practices, Kinser will lead a team that focuses on an integrated strategy to drive impact and continued success. Most recently, she was the head of digital marketing and eCommerce.

Ana Ambrosi

Ambrosi, who previously built AFM a corporate communications practice and crisis plan and launched the Avocado Institute of Mexico, is now the director of Corporate Communications, Crisis, and PR. She will now oversee all consumer public relations across the corporate and marketing sides.

“One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is building this company from the ground up—teaming up with a wonderful and diverse group of overachievers and creative thinkers that have made AFM a success,” CEO and President Alvaro Luque said in a statement. “Not only we have created a brand in a package-less category and doubled the volume of Mexican avocado imports in the U.S. in just seven years, but our passionate leadership and the team’s drive has put AFM on the path to become the most innovative produce company in the world.”

KDC gets an executive vice president

Eric Hage

Dallas-based KDC, a developer and acquirer of mixed-use projects and corporate build-to-suit campus projects, has hired Eric Hage as its new executive vice president of development.

Hage previously ran his own commercial construction firm, and before that, spent more than a decade at Structure Tone. There, he led the Dallas office as a regional vice president, managing a book of business exceeding $300 million annually. In his new role at KDC, Hage will be involved in bringing on new business, expanding relationships with existing clients, managing new and ongoing projects, and helping to guide the development team to ensure succes. He will also support KDC’s newly announced $800 million fund.

“Eric brings nearly two decades of commercial construction experience to KDC, which provides a unique and valuable perspective to KDC,” President Toby Grove said in a statement. “His deep knowledge of the Metroplex’s commercial real estate market, coupled with his affinity for relationship building and his commitment to client service, makes him an ideal fit for KDC.”