First Foundation Inc. Announces Leadership Moves at the Top

First Foundation Inc. is a financial services company with two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank.

Dallas-based First Foundation Inc. announced Monday that Chief Executive Officer Scott F. Kavanaugh has been named president of First Foundation Inc. and First Foundation Bank.

First Foundation Inc. is a financial services company with two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank.

“Enhancing Scott’s position to include the role of President is the most suitable, long-term transition for the organization,” lead independent director Max Briggs said in a statement. “For the past 15 years, First Foundation and its affiliates have benefitted tremendously from Scott’s proven leadership and strong knowledge of finance, banking, and real estate. The board has complete confidence that he is the right choice to assume this role and execute against the commitments we have made to reduce expenses and slow loan growth while continuing to deliver excellent service to our clients.”

The company announced that Chief Financial Officer and Interim President Kevin Thompson has stepped down and that Amy Djou, First Foundation Bank’s chief accounting officer, will assume the position of interim chief financial officer of First Foundation Inc. and First Foundation Bank while the company conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

Kavanaugh has served as CEO of First Foundation Inc. and First Foundation Bank since 2009, the company said. Formerly, he was an executive vice president and director of secondary marketing for Provident Funding. Kavanaugh was a founding stockholder of Commercial Capital Bancorp and served as director, executive vice president and chief administrative officer from June 1999 to February 2003.

Djou previously served as chief accounting officer of the bank since March 2021. She joined First Foundation Bank in May 2016. Djou was a senior vice president, controller of the bank between January 2018 and March 2021 and was vice president, controller between May 2016 and January 2018.

First Foundation Inc. and its subsidiaries offer personal banking, business banking, and private wealth management services, including investment, trust, insurance, and philanthropy services.

Go here for more DI People news.

You’ll find a roundup of innovators to know in North Texas. DI People includes hires, leadership moves, and accolades. Send us your news here.

Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.

Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.

One quick signup, and you’re done.
View previous emails.

R E A D   N E X T

  • The Dallas Foundation's 2022 Field of Interest grants aim to assist 51 organizations embracing a wide range of issues—including the arts, critical needs, children and families, animal welfare, and more. Here's the full list of recipients.

  • Pathlock's recent mergers, acquisitions, and capital raises have enabled the company to address the increasing risk in application security while establishing its leadership position as the industry's most complete 360-degree platform for application security and controls automation.

  • The T.D. Jakes Foundation, Dallas Mavericks, and Goldman Sachs announced the winners of its free, two-week immersive 'Hackathon' for kids aged 14 to 18. Six local high school students won for developing an app for people suffering from mental illness to get the help they need. The chairman of T.D. Jakes Foundation has today's "Last Word" on Dallas Innovates.

  • The Perot family’s support will expand the number of students admitted to UT Southwestern's dual-degree program as well as research disciplines in which they study, to include biomedical engineering, computational biology, bioinformatics, and data science. The funding will enhance the curriculum and experiences of Medical Scientist Training Program students and increase efforts to recruit students from elite U.S. colleges, including top international students who want to stay in the U.S. for their careers.

  • The "Transforming Communities"-themed event on October 6 features America’s most decorated track and field athlete, Allyson Felix. While the athletic legend may be retiring from competitive athletics, she's amplifying her voice for women’s rights. She'll also talk about launching her new brand for women, led by women.