DI People: Lennox International, Hillwood, Fossil Group, and More Make Moves

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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Nexus Recovery Center names new executive officer

Cameron Hernholm

Dallas-based Nexus Recovery Center, a nonprofit that specializes in substance use disorder treatments for adult women, has appointed Cameron Hernholm as its new chief philanthropy officer.

A seasoned nonprofit executive for 18 years, Hernholm has an array of expertise in major gifts, capital campaigns, annual giving, grant writing, special events, and public relations. Previously, she was the chief advancement officer at Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region, in which she led a development staff in raising funds for public school students across North Texas. In her new role, Hernholm—a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)—will oversee all aspects of the organization’s fundraising, marketing, and PR efforts.

“Nexus Recovery Center is privileged to welcome an executive as experienced and passionate as Cameron to our team,” Heather Ormand, Nexus Recovery Center’s CEO, said in a statement. “We’re confident that through Cameron’s leadership, Nexus Recovery Center will continue to grow our services even beyond what they are today, and offer outstanding, comprehensive assistance to the women and families we serve on their sobriety journey.”

Lennox International’s CEO steps down

Todd Bluedorn

Dallas-based Lennox International is in search of a new chief executive following the news that current CEO and Chairman Todd Bluedorn is stepping down, effective mid-2022.

Bluedorn has helmed the global provider of energy-efficient climate-control solutions for the past 15 years. This week, he informed the board of directors he will be leaving to create a better balance between his personal and professional priorities.” During his tenure, Lennox’s market cap grew from $2.5 billion to more than $13 billion, resulting in a total shareholder return in excess of 18 percent annually.

“It has been a privilege to lead LI these past 15 years and I’m extremely proud of all we’ve accomplished together,” Bluedorn said in a statement. “With an exceptional management team, hard-working and dedicated employees, key strategic investments in product, technology, and distribution, and strong end markets, we are well positioned for continued momentum in 2021 and beyond.”

Hillwood appoints a lead of its Alliance Aviation Companies

Christian Childs

Fort Worth-headquartered Hillwood, an industrial, commercial, and residential real estate developer, has promoted Christian Childs to president of the Aviation Companies at Fort Worth Alliance Airport.

Childs, who has more than 23 years of experience in aviation, will lead the airport and its team through an anticipated rapid growth period.

That involves overseeing all day-to-day operations of Hillwood’s three aviation divisions: Alliance Air Services, Alliance Aviation Services, and Alliance Air Productions.

Tom Harris

With the move, former President Tom Harris will move into the role of executive vice president of Hillwood.

A 31-year veteran of the company, Harris will now lead key airport infrastructure projects, activities at the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ), workforce development programs and community partnerships, and the Alliance Landscape Company.

Hillwood also announced another leadership move with the transition: Christopher Ash has been promoted to senior vice president of aviation business development.

Christopher Ash

In his new role, Ash will focus on expanding military, corporate, airline, and real estate partnerships while maintaining oversight of AllianceTexas Fuel Services and serving as a central leader within the Aviation Companies.

Recently, Hillwood announced a research partnership between the MIZ and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. You can learn more about what that means for the innovation zone here.

Fossil Group appoints a chief digital officer

Holly Briedis

Fossil Group, the fashion designer and manufacturer based in Richardson, is expanding its executive leadership team with the addition of Holly Briedis as its new executive vice president and chief digital officer.

The move comes at a time when Fossil is working to build on its industry-leading transformation to a digital-first retailer. In her new role, Briedis will be responsible for leading all digital initiatives. She brings more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing and retail to the company, having most recently served as a partner leading the Omnichannel and Customer Experience practice at McKinsey & Company.

“The digital footprint of consumers continues to grow, and brands leaning into this evolution are the ones driving growth,” Fossil Group Chairman and CEO Kosta Kartsotis said in a statement. “Holly’s extensive leadership and expertise in driving customer-centered digital transformations for retail brands during her time with McKinsey & Company will help Fossil Group cement itself as a digital-first retailer.”

Eyemart Express gets a new CFO

Mike Loftus

Dallas-based Eyemart Express, a national optical retailer that offers affordable and high-quality prescription eyewear, has appointed Mike Loftus as its new chief financial officer, effective July 20.

In his new role, Loftus will lead the retailer’s finance department, while serving as a strategic adviser to the CEO and leadership team. He brings more than 25 years of finance experience to the company, specifically in the retail sector. Most recently, Loftus was the CFO of Lori’s Gifts, a provider of hospital gift shop retail and concierge services, and before that he held finance leadership roles at GameStop and Blockbuster.

“Mike will be an excellent addition to our Eyemart family, as he brings a strong track record in achieving data-focused operational and financial goals, and building high-performing, cohesive teams,” Eyemart Express CEO Michael Bender said in a statement. “His hands-on approach and leadership experience will be an invaluable addition to propel our growth strategy.”

Evolve Mortgage Services names a lead to its digital team

Tim Anderson

Frisco-based Evolve Mortgage Services, a provider of onshore outsourced mortgage services, has brought on Tim Anderson, a pioneer in the mortgage technology space, as its new executive vice president and director of its eMortgage strategy.

In his new role, Anderson will oversee the deployment of Evolve’s end-to-end digital closing platform, leading a team of well-known mortgage experts with a deep industry knowledge of all things digital. Anderson has come full circle: He previously served as the president of Evolve’s SigniaDocs subsidiary from 2007 to 2010. He has also held leadership roles at Black Knight, DocMagic, and Pavaso throughout his 35-year career.

“Our recent investment in E-Notary Seal has enabled us to build the mortgage industry’s only complete end-to-end digital closing platform in real estate finance,” Evolve Mortgage Services Founder and CEO Paul Anselmo said in a statement. “Now, with Tim on board, we have an industry pioneer with deep roots in developing the digital closing process to fuel mass adoption of this truly digital end-to-end closing experience that we’ve created.”

Balfour Beatty hires Daniel LaFrance as its chief compliance officer of U.S. operations

Daniel LaFrance

Balfour Beatty, a British multinational infrastructure group that has its U.S. headquarters in Dallas, has brought on Daniel LaFrance as the new vice president and chief compliance officer of its Buildings, Civils, and Investments operations in the U.S.

LaFrance’s role will focus on legal, regulatory, and operational compliance. He will conduct and manage risk assessments, collaborating with senior leadership across Balfour Beatty’s global business, with an emphasis on the company’s U.S. geographies within its three business lines. Most recently, LaFrance was the chief ethics and compliance officer at Colas USA, an infrastructure construction, mining, and materials firm at which he spent 16 years.

“This newly centralized chief compliance officer role emphasizes Balfour Beatty’s deep commitment to ethics and compliance within the organization,” Leon Blondin, CEO of Balfour Beatty’s U.S. operations, said in a statement. “Dan will continue to build on the company’s reputation, ensuring that we remain compliant with regulatory matters across the nation and adhere to our businesses’ internal policies and bylaws.”

West Monroe Partners expands its Dallas team

Kevin Fisher

West Monroe, a business and technology consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, has added Kevin Fisher to its team as a managing director.

Fisher will be part of the firm’s rapidly growing national technology practice in the Dallas office, which acts as home base for its operations in the Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas area. There he will address client challenges by leveraging data, analytics, cloud, and software engineering solutions.

Fisher, who was most recently managing director and general manager at projekt202, has more than two decades of experience in technology and digital transformation.

Foundry Commercial’s Dallas office adds to its agency team

Matt Hurlbut

Real estate services and investment firm Foundry Commercial is continuing to expand in the region with the hiring of Matt Hurlbut and Dale Ray as SVPs of Office Agency Leasing in its Dallas office.

According to the company, the move will exponentially grow its Office Agency Leasing team in the market. Hurlbut and Ray will work closely with other associates in the local office, leasing properties and building its growing portfolio. The duo will also collaborate with Foundry’s development & investments and property management teams to promote complementary service lines.

Dale Ray

Hurlbut has spent more than 38 years in the commercial real estate industry, most recently serving as a principal at Transwestern Commercial Services. Ray has more than 33 years of experience in the industry, and joins Foundry from Avison Young, where he was also a principal.

“The greater Dallas-Fort Worth region remains one of the hottest commercial real estate markets in the country, so we’re elated to add industry power players like Matt and Dale to our growing team,” Steve Bassett, the Texas Market Leader for Foundry Commercial, said in a statement. “Their combined breadth of experience and deep networks in the immediate and surrounding areas is already proving a valuable advantage for existing and future clients alike. It’s a privilege to now be working alongside them.”

Working Solutions adds two new members to its board

Ben Trowbridge

Dallas-based Working Solutions, an on-demand business process outsourcer of omnichannel CX services, has appointed Ben Trowbridge and Emilie Ray to its board of directors.

Trowbridge is a cybersecurity expert who most recently led the creation of EY’s Global Cybersecurity as a Service practice. There, he established a services leadership team that managed threat detection and response, threat exposure management, managed identity access management, and data protection as a service. Before that, he was the founder and CEO of Alsbridge.

Emilie Ray

Ray, an experienced healthcare executive, has previously led businesses to achieve growth through scaling operations, launching products and services, and driving results through influence and collaboration. She is currently the SVP and general manager of consumer markets for McKesson’s medical-surgical business, a role in which she is responsible for building a strategy, business case, and team across several channels.

“The addition of Ben and Emilie to our board strengthens our company’s leadership in cybersecurity and technology innovation,” Kim Houlne, Working Solutions’ founder and chief executive, said in a statement. “We welcome them as we grow into emerging industries while continuing to build on a quarter century of providing exceptional customer service.”