George Floyd's murder changed a lot of things in the legal industry. May 14, 2021 at 11:32 AM
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In the latest episode of The Jabot podcast, I chat with Sona Pancholy, president of Meritas, about the twists and turns of her career that took her to Meritas. We also talk about her goals as president of Meritas and how she leverages her own personal story in achieving those. We also discuss the recently launched Black Lawyers Forum and Women’s Leadership Congress and why that was such a priority in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. The Jabot podcast is an offshoot of the Above the Law brand focused on the challenges women, people of color, LGBTQIA, and other diverse populations face in the legal industry. Our name comes from none other than the Notorious Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the jabot (decorative collar) she wore when delivering dissents from the bench. It’s a reminder that even when we aren’t winning, we’re still a powerful force to be reckoned with. Happy listening!

Making Lasting Changes In The Legal Industry

DI People: Taysha Gene Therapies, MediaKind, Comerica, and More Make Moves
In this weekly roundup of executive moves in North Texas, you'll also find news from Liberty Capital Bank, Krista Software, Tuesday Morning, Trive Capital, Cantey Hanger, UNT, JUNO, NuZee, Jaunt Air Mobility, Korbyt, and ID90 Travel. 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. Taysha Gene Therapies appoints a chief development officer
Mary Newman
Dallas-based Taysha Gene Therapies, the local biotech pioneer that is developing and commercializing gene therapies for the treatment of monogenic diseases of the central nervous system, has named industry veteran Mary Newman as its new chief development officer. In her new role on the startup’s leadership team, Newman will oversee program and portfolio management, as well as translational sciences. She has more than three decades of experience in regulatory affairs and research and development within the biotechnology industry, with a focus on rare diseases. Most recently, she was the SVP of Regulatory Affairs at Astellas Gene Therapies. “In the past few months, we have significantly expanded our extremely talented R&D team, and Mary is an important addition to support the achievement of our ambitious pipeline advancement goals,” RA Session II, the president, founder, and CEO of Taysha, said in a statement. “Her decades of experience in all key aspects of drug development, particularly in gene therapy and rare disease, will be invaluable as we continue to grow our business.”
MediaKind adds two senior leadership positions
Mark Ramberg
Frisco-headquartered MediaKind, the global leader in media technology solutions, has chosen Mark Ramberg as its new group vice president of Products and Jeff Sherwin as its executive vice president of Technology Strategy & Operations. According to the software company, the newly created roles will strengthen its technical capabilities and strategic commitment to the direct-to-consumer (DTC) video, advertising, and sports markets. Combined, the two men bring more than 45 years of experience in the DTC and advertising space. Both have previously worked with early-stage startups and Fortune 100 giants: Ramberg formerly led product management teams at Hulu/Disney, and Sherwin founded and led This Technology, which was acquired by Comcast. Jeff Sherwin
In his role, Ramberg will lead MediaKind’s product management to advance the DTC market and build cloud-based media delivery technologies for the live and on-demand streaming ecosystem. Sherwin will deploy his deep entrepreneurial background in converting ideas into high-growth companies in the video advertising space. “The growing popularity of OTT services continues to disrupt and shorten traditional media supply chains, which is exemplified by the rapid movements in the highly competitive and complex DTC and advertising space,” CEO Matt McConnell said in a statement. “Through the appointments of Mark and Jeff, we have made two strategic hires who will help us negotiate the next stage in our breakthrough of these increasingly converging market segments.”
Comerica names a national Asian American business development manager
Sonya Trac
Dallas-headquartered Comerica Bank has announced that Sonya Trac will serve as its new national Asian American business development manager to support its commitment to strengthening relationships with Asian American business leaders, entrepreneurs, and communities. Trac’s appointment is an extension of her current role as VP of External Affairs for Northern California. She will now be tasked with collaborating with Comerica’s Asian American Pacific Islander Business Resource Groups, Chief Diversity Officer Nate Bennett, and Chief Community Officer Irvin Ashford, Jr. to build partnerships with Asian American nonprofits and community partners. She has been with Comerica since 2018. “Sonya has successfully demonstrated her leadership in Northern California, and we are pleased to leverage her strengths in engaging our Asian American Pacific Islander communities across all our markets,” Ashford, Jr. said in a statement. “Comerica is only as strong as the communities we serve, and it remains business critical to ensure we are meeting the needs of our diverse communities.”
Coinciding with the announcement is the news that Comerica has deposited $2.5 million into the Asian American Minority Depository Institution (MDI) Royal Business Bank of Los Angeles. Mr. Cooper Group hires a chief diversity officer
Leonard McLaughlin
Dallas-based Mr. Cooper Group Inc, a provider of servicing, origination, and transaction-based services related to single-family residences, has brought Leonard McLaughlin onto its team as the new chief diversity officer. McLaughlin has more than 15 years of experience leading diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies, having launched multiple initiatives at Gallagher and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He aims to foster inclusive and equitable environments for organizations. At Mr. Cooper, McLaughlin will spearhead efforts to attract, retain, and grow diverse talent and drive DEI strategies that enhance the employee experience. He will also lead the Environmental, Social, and Governance program. “Our team members are our greatest asset at Mr. Cooper Group, and in the last several years we’ve collectively created a more inclusive culture built on understanding and valuing our differences,” Chairman and CEO Jay Bray said in a statement. “We are excited to welcome Leonard to our team and know his experience in DEI leadership centered around employee engagement and comprehensive strategy will be valuable to our organization.”
Liberty Capital Bank gets a new president
Ryan Friend
Addison-based Liberty Capital Bank, which services the Dallas-Fort Worth region, has promoted Ryan Friend from senior vice president to president, effective June 1. Friend will assume the responsibilities of his mentor, Robin Wantland, who is retiring after a 42-year career in banking, but staying on in a consultative role for Liberty’s Board of Directors. Friend will now focus on serving new and existing clients while leading the team of bankers. “Robin has been a great asset to the bank. His ability to recruit and grow young bankers is the reason Ryan and others have joined our franchise. He has built a great culture with Ben Cunningham, one we will enjoy for years to come,” Chairman and Co-Founder Holt Lunsford said in a statement. “We are excited to see Ryan in an expanded role, one he deserves. He and Alan Morris are the future of Liberty Capital Bank. We look forward to seeing them lead our people and improve upon our customer experience. We are in good hands.”
Krista Software names a chief revenue officer
Satendar Bhatia
Dallas-based Krista Software, an intelligent automation platform provider, has added Satendar Bhatia to its team as the chief revenue officer. Satendar will now be responsible for managing Krista’s global sales, alliances, and revenue expansion-related initiatives. He has more than two decades of leadership experience, specifically in enterprise sales and strategic alliances. Most recently, he was the SVP and global head of Embedded Software Sales at Lookout; before that, he was the SVP and global head of Sales at Zimperium. “Satendar has a proven track record of success in driving revenue growth, building world-class sales teams and highly productive partner eco-systems for several enterprise software companies,” CEO John Michelsen said in a statement. “Satendar and I have worked together previously to bring differentiated technologies and the accompanying business value to hundreds of enterprises. I am thrilled to be working with Satendar again and having him lead our worldwide field operations teams.”
Tuesday Morning gets a new CEO
Fred Hand
Dallas-headquartered Tuesday Morning, the leading off-price retailer of home goods and décor, has named Fred Hand as its new chief executive officer and member of the Board of Directors, effective May 17. Hand is an experienced off-price retail executive who was most recently the chief operating officer of Burlington Stores, Inc. There, he was responsible for leading its stores and real estate organizations. He has also worked at Macy’s Inc, Filene’s Department Stores, and The May Department Stores Company. Hand will replace Steven Becker, who previously announced that he was stepping down from his role as CEO and director. “After a comprehensive search for a new CEO and interviews with several high-quality candidates, we are confident Fred is the ideal choice to lead Tuesday Morning’s future growth,” Sherry Smith, chairperson of the Board, said in a statement. “Fred is an exceptional retailer with outstanding operating, merchandising, and leadership skills, and importantly has a deep understanding of the off-price business model. His record of strong leadership at Burlington and extensive experience at other leading retailers, will be instrumental in driving long-term value for Tuesday Morning.”
Trive Capital gets two new presidents
Eric Hsu
David Li
Dallas private equity firm Trive Capital has added Eric Hsu and David Li to its team as vice presidents. Hsu and Li will be tasked with identifying and evaluating investment opportunities, performing transaction due diligence, and working with management teams to implement operational and growth strategies. Trive deploys equity capital across a diverse set of manufacturing, distribution, and value-add service verticals. Most recently, Hsu was a principal at Lee Equity Partners, where he was involved in evaluating, executing, and managing investments in the financial services industry. Li was a VP at Twin Point Capital, where he sourced, executed, and managed investments in the technology, media, and telecommunications industries. Cantey Hanger partner elected to Meritas Law Firms Worldwide
Laura Hilton Hallmon
Laura Hilton Hallmon, an attorney and partner at Fort Worth-based Cantey Hanger LLP, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for Meritas Law Firms Worldwide, a global alliance of independent law firms. Hallmon was chosen for the position from a pool of more than 7,400 attorneys in the Meritas member network. She will serve a three-year term with 20 other attorneys from around the world. They will participate in strategic planning, finance, development, member recruitment, and retention for Meritas. “Laura has been a strong leader as the Meritas network has grown to serve an increasing number of companies’ cross-border legal needs,” Sona Pancholy, president of Meritas, said in a statement. “She has a keen understanding of what keeps in-house counsel up at night, and the ways in which a network of premier independent firms can best address those client needs.”
UNT names a vice provost for faculty success
Holly Hutchins
The University of North Texas in Denton has named alumna Holly M. Hutchins to the role of vice provost for faculty success, effective July 12. Hutchins earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at UNT. Most recently, Hutchins was a professor and chair of the Department of Human Development and Consumer Sciences at the University of Houston. There, she helped increase tenure-track faculty size and diversity, achieve an equitable pay increase for adjunct faculty, develop new faculty research labs, grow publications and grant proposals, and improve e-learning in the classroom. She will lead the numerous programs that support faculty of all ranks in their teaching, scholarly, and leadership endeavors in her new position at UNT. “Faculty Success has undergone a tremendous amount of growth and transformation in the past year,” UNT Provost Jennifer Cowley said in a statement. “We’ve opened critical dialogues and launched an innovative professional development portfolio, the Anti-Bias and Cultural Awareness Program, to build a workplace culture that promotes equity and inclusion. We are working to meet the needs of our diverse campus community. With Dr. Hutchins’ insight and expertise, we will continue to expand our faculty support systems and strengthen UNT’s reputation as one of the best places to work.”
JUNO expands its leadership team
LaDonna Whitaker
Dallas-based JUNO, which aims to provide a frictionless single experience platform for hybrid events, has named LaDonna Whitaker as its new VP of Sales. Whitaker has a track record of building teams at fast-growing companies. At Virgin America, she led a group that “usurped market share from industry goliaths to help propel the little-airline-that-could into IPO status.” She also previously worked in Expedia’s corporate division startup as sales employee No. 1. “LaDonna’s experience in technology and with events means she can help clients over the barriers they face in confusion over technology, cost of implementation and confidence in making the right choice,” JUNO CEO Josh Hotsenpiller said in a statement. “She is an ideal leader for the team on a mission to share our brand and how JUNO supports events and associations.”
Farmer Brothers executive joins NuZee
Jose Ramirez
Jose Ramirez, the VP of Coffee Strategy and Sustainability for Farmer Brothers, has announced that after 12 years with the company, he is joining Plano-based NuZee as its chief sales officer and chief supply chain officer. In November 2020, NuZee and Northlake-based Farmer Brothers formed a strategic partnership under which Farmer Brothers provides access to manufacturing capacity as NuZee continues to roll out coffee and tea products in the U.S. Farmers Brothers will continue to work with Ramirez in his new role. At NuZee, a producer and co-packer of specialty single serve pour-over coffee pouches and pour over drip cups, Ramirez will be responsible for the sales strategy for both traditional and non-traditional channels. He has more than two decades of experience in the coffee industry—at Farmer Brothers, a national roaster, wholesaler, and distributor of coffee, tea, and culinary products, he held many notable positions and was active in the coffee community. “I am very excited to have Jose Ramirez join our organization and believe that his deep knowledge in the specialty coffee space coupled with his vast network of coffee roasters, brands, and other industry related relationships will help catapult NuZee’s growth over the coming quarters,” NuZee President and CEO Masa Higashida said. Jaunt Air Mobility expands globally with new role
Eric Côté
Dallas-based Jaunt Air Mobility, which is developing a new generation of aircraft to meet the growing demand for faster urban and regional travel, has appointed Eric Côté to head its Canadian operations in an effort to grow its global footprint. Jaunt also announced that it will be locating its design and manufacturing operations to Canada. Côté has CEO experience, having formerly led the Soucy Group, a worldwide engineering and manufacturing organization. During his 15-year tenure there, he set up a strong and mobilized organization with an increased presence in all five continents. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Bombardier Aerospace in various senior-level positions. “We are pleased to have Eric join our senior leadership, Eric brings significant experience in managing organizations and growing organizations to meet customer needs worldwide and Jaunt’s Canadian operations will create many new jobs in manufacturing and engineering and will introduce a new, sustainable, aviation ecosystem,” CEO Martin Peryea said in a statement. “We are committed to a sustainable environment with our green and innovative aircraft.”
Korbyt strengthens its Board of Advisors
Dallas-based Korbyt, a workplace experience platform, has added six new members to its Board of Advisors in an effort to broaden its global reach. Together, the new Board members will work to expand Korbyt Anywhere, a platform with omni-channel publishing capabilities that aims to help enterprises transition to the hybrid workplace and deliver exceptional digital employee experiences. It allows communication teams to publish, target, and streamline the delivery of content and information to all employees across various channels. “Our advisors bring a diverse mix of expertise and experience that help augment, align and advance our teams and capabilities,” CEO Ankur Ahlowalia said in a statement. “They have each helped guide a variety of technology companies across multiple industries through their growth phase. Their insights are invaluable as we look to capitalize on fast-growing opportunities in the employee communications and digital workplace markets.”
The new Board members are: Shreesha Ramdas, SVP and General Manager of Medallia; Michelle Russo, chief communications officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Lee Hutcheson, chief information security officer of Bass Pro Shops; C.R. Howdyshell, president of Advizex Technologies; Devin Cygnar, chief marketing officer of Northwest Bank, and Lindsay Parker, former chief marketing officer of Equifax. ID90 Travel brings on a new CTO
Dallas-based travel agency ID90 Travel has added airline and travel industry veteran Steve Livezey to its leadership team as the chief technology officer. In his new role, Livezey will oversee the development and execution of the company’s global technology roadmap, spearheading the e-commerce and business to business strategies. He has previously held executive positions in software architecture at Travelport, Southwest Airlines, and Sabre, and also served as a Military Intelligence Officer in the US Army. “We are always innovating our technology to make sure that we keep the organization and our e-commerce platform moving forward,” CEO Mike Stacy said in a statement. “Steve brings the right combination of software development and airline industry expertise to our organization to launch us into our next phase of growth. We are excited about the contributions he will make to ID90 Travel.”
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DI People: Taysha Gene Therapies, MediaKind, Comerica, and More Make Moves

DI People: Dallas Regional Chamber, MoneyGram, COMSovereign, and More Make Moves
In this weekly roundup of executive moves in North Texas, you'll also find news from HealthMine, Tricolor, Teach For America DFW, the Black Lawyers Forum of Meritas, Care Continuity, and Veritex Bank, among others. 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. Dallas Regional Chamber names its 2021 chair of the Board
Michelle Vopni
The voice of business and champion of economic development and growth in the Dallas region, the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC), has elected Michelle Vopni as its 2021 chair of the Board. She succeeds John Olajide, founder and CEO of Axxess, who served as the 2020 chair. Both will headline the organization’s virtual annual meeting event on March 4. In addition, Bob Pragada, the president and COO of Jacobs, has been elected to serve as DRC chair in 2022. Vopni is the current Dallas office managing partner for Ernst & Young LLP, in which she leads day-to-day practice operations in one of the firm’s largest markets. Bob Pragada
She has some three decades of experience serving large public and private companies, and has been an EY partner for more than 16 years. During her one-year term, Vopni will be tasked with overseeing the DRC’s efforts to return Dallas’ economy to its historically strong pace. “I am truly honored to have been elected by my Board colleagues to chair this important organization at such a critical time in our history,” Vopni said in a statement. “The global pandemic has been difficult for us all, but the Dallas region has proven resilient and companies from around the country are showing even more interest in expanding their operations in our community than they were a year ago.”
MoneyGram elects three new directors to its Board
Dallas-based money transfer company MoneyGram International has elected Alka Gupta, Francisco Lorca, and Julie E. Silcock to its Board of Directors, effective Feb. 23. Each new member brings diverse experience in fintech, global payments, enterprise technology, and investment banking to the Board. Gupta is a co-founder and former president of globaliD, where she still sits on the Board. Prior to that, she was an executive at eBay/PayPal. Lorca is the founder and CEO of EthosData, and previously held leadership positions at Startupbootcamp FinTech, First Data International, Teknoland, GE Capital Europe and McKinsey & Company. Silcock is a senior advisor at CDX Advisors, and has worked for more than three decades in capital markets and M&A. “Coming off of a remarkable and record-breaking year that truly demonstrated the strength of our digital transformation, these three join MoneyGram at an exciting time,” Alex Holmes, MoneyGram chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “The addition of these directors complements the skills, experience and perspective of our established board, and we are confident that they will provide valuable insight as we continue to execute our purpose-driven growth strategy to mobilize the movement of money.”
COMSovereign Holding Corp. appoints a new CFO
Dallas-based COMSovereign Holding Corp., a developer of 4G LTE and 5G communication systems and solutions, has named Martin R. Wade III as its newest chief financial officer and executive vice president, succeeding Brian T. Mihelich. Wade has more than 40 years of experience advising senior management and boards of directors. His focus areas include business strategy, acquisition, divestiture, and restructuring projects. Since 2007, he has been a partner in residence at Catalyst Acquisition Group, and is the current chairman and CEO of Broadcaster, Inc., VITA Mobile Systems, Inc., and Madice.com. He’s also held senior-level positions with investment banking firms such as Lehman Brothers and Salomon Brothers, and served as national head of investment banking at Price Waterhouse LLP. “We welcome Marty to the COMSovereign team at an especially exciting time for our company following our recent listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and the infusion of over $40 million in growth capital from new institutional investors,” Chairman and CEO Dan Hodges said in a statement. “Martin’s successful track-record as a critical thinker, business leader and advisor building and operating businesses for long-term success will be invaluable as we begin the next phase of our growth plan which includes ramping-up product production and accelerating the commercialization of our next-gen wireless technologies.”
HealthMine adds an executive vice president
Kent Holdcroft
HealthMine, a tech-enabled member engagement and rewards company based in Dallas, has named Kent Holdcroft as its executive vice president of Growth. In his new role, Holdcroft will lead all business development initiatives. He joins HealthMine with more than fifteen years of operational, consulting, and business development experience, most recently service as executive vice president of Enterprise Accounts and Strategic Partnerships at AdhereHealth. His other past stints include working with healthcare technology vendors, in which he has focused on bringing the voice of the customer into the solutions he represents. “HealthMine delivers a best-in-class member experience and personalized member engagement and rewards through our technology-enabled solutions,” Bryce Williams, president and CEO of HealthMine, said in a statement. “Kent brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success in hyper-growth companies, aligning the needs of health plans and providers with the right technology solutions to drive improved health outcomes and member experience.”
Tricolor names a president of its new SaaS business
Stephanie Alsbrooks Hanson
Dallas-based Tricolor, a used vehicle retailer and lender for the Hispanic consumer, has launched Tricolor Financial, a new venture dedicated to extending its proprietary AI-powered technology, and appointed Stephanie Alsbrooks Hanson as its president. Tricolor Financial is an extension of the company’s mission to transform consumer credit for underserved Hispanic consumers. Hanson brings a niche experience to the new business, previously serving as the founder and CEO of defi Solutions, a cloud-based solution for originating and servicing consumer loans. In that role, she is known for successfully raising funding from Bain Capital Ventures and drawing more than 100 lenders to the platform before merging with Sagent Lending Technologies in 2019. “This is an exciting day for Tricolor as we significantly grow our capacity to fulfill our core mission by launching a new initiative to leverage our capability to ‘score the unscoreable,'” Tricolor Founder and CEO Daniel Chu said in a statement. “I am thrilled to welcome Stephanie to the team as she helps scale this endeavor nationally. Her experience as a technologist and innovator in consumer lending is unrivaled, making her the perfect person to lead this next phase of mission-driven growth.”
Teach For America DFW announces new COO
David Simpson
Teach for America DFW, which finds, develops, and supports a network of leaders to expand access and opportunity for children, has appointed David Simpson, an alumnus of Dallas ISD schools, to the role of chief operating officer. Simpson’s professional background mainly focuses on nonprofits, as he has held stints at many of the country’s top organizations. He brings more than 14 years of nonprofit management experience to Teach For America DFW, most recently serving as COO of HopeWorks in Memphis. In his new role, Simpson will lead the internal business operations of the organization and ensure key initiatives are driven forward in the areas of culture transformation, advancing racial equity, and Fort Worth impact. “The Teach For America DFW team is excited to have David join us in our mission of expanding access and opportunity for children,” Rea Foster, Teach For America DFW executive director, said in a statement. “We are confident his experience, leadership and passion for education will be tremendous assets to both our organization, as well as to thousands of local students.”
Catalyze Dallas founder and managing director named to Board of Directors for The Center for Advanced Defense Studies
Joe D’Cruz
Joe D’Cruz, the founder and managing director of Catalyze Dallas, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for The Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), a nonprofit that provides data-driven analysis and evidence-based reporting on global conflict and transnational security issues. D’Cruz brings experience working with defense companies to commercialize their investments in innovation to the Board. At C4ADS, he will assist in supporting efforts to bridge the intelligence gap between traditional public sector and profit-driven institutions using advanced technology and highly trained analysts. “Joe is a welcome addition to our Board given his passion for national security, his background in effective business management, and his experience building productive connections between the public and private sectors,” David Johnson, executive director of C4ADS, said in a statement. “As we look ahead into the 21st Century, we recognize that we need committed, ethical leaders with a strong background in innovation, technology, and markets to create real impact. Joe will be instrumental in growing our influence and furthering our work.”
Meritas’ Black Lawyers Forum names a chairman
Brian Newby
The Black Lawyers Forum of Meritas, an alliance of leading independent law firms, has elected Brian Newby, a managing partner at Fort Worth-based Cantey Hanger LLP, as its new chairman. Each of Meritas’ member law firms holds itself to the organization’s highest standard of service. The new forum initiative that Newby is leading will further Meritas’ commitment to racial equality by providing Black lawyers with greater visibility and opportunities. Its mission is to facilitate “connections and mentorship, but also provide a platform for our Black lawyers to discuss unique issues and experiences related to professional development and business development.”
“I am excited to lead this new initiative among our Meritas firms,” Newby said in a statement. “Each of our firms has struggled with ways to address inclusiveness and improve racial equity in our legal communities. What better way to begin than to convene with the bright minds, enthusiasm and business acumen of our Meritas Black lawyers to share best practices in professional development and create stronger connections for future business development.”
BizCom Associates adds an account executive
Nicole Traycoff
Allen-based BizCom Associates, a public relations and marketing communications firm, has announced that Nicole Traycoff is joining its team as an account executive. Traycoff brings more than 20 years of experience in integrated communications to BizCom, specifically in the corporate, nonprofit, and integrated marketing agency sectors. Most recently, she provided senior-level strategic public relations and digital marketing counsel to consulting clients and agencies in Texas, North Carolina, Michigan, and Florida. “We are elated to be welcoming Nicole to the BizCom team,” Monica Feid, president of BizCom, said in a statement. “Her senior-level strategic planning expertise and business acumen are valuable assets to her clients and colleagues. Nicole’s vertical market knowledge and passion for promoting emerging technologies will drive the PR campaigns of two new industry-leading clients we recently added to our ever-growing client roster.”
Alerian appoints a director of Marketing and Brand
Kim Greenberg
Dallas-based Alerian, an independent index provider of innovative, index-based investment strategies, has named Kim Greenberg as its new director of Marketing and Brand. Greenberg brings more than 15 years of experience developing marketing strategies for financial services companies. Most recently, she led strategic beta and ETF marketing at Columbia Threadneedle Investments. In her new role, she will lead marketing and branding efforts, working with Alerian’s head of sales to strengthen the company’s business development strategy and collaborating with client partnerships to support growth. “Kim’s deep background leading branding efforts and marketing campaigns, matched with her experience working with asset managers, focusing on product launches in the alternative investment and ETF space, makes her a great addition to our growing team,” CEO David LaValle said in a statement. “Her ability to develop, execute and achieve our business goals creates an unparalleled combination as we continue to increase our brand’s reputation within the industry.”
Care Continuity adds to its Board of Directors
Dr. Anthony Coletta
Dallas-based Care Continuity Inc., a provider of patient navigation and care transitions, has appointed Dr. Anthony Coletta to its Board of Directors. Coletta is a board-certified general surgeon and the former executive chairman of Tandigm Health. As an experienced healthcare business leader, he has a breadth of executive and clinical expertise. Recent roles include leadership positions dedicated to restoring balance within our healthcare ecosystem, and placing patients and their physicians at the epicenter of proactive, coordinated care. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Coletta, who joins us at an exciting time as we continue to drive our strategy forward to improve network integrity, the patient experience, and clinical outcomes with fully connected care delivery and seamless care transitions,” Andrew Thorby, founder and CEO of Care Continuity, said in a statement. “The addition of Dr. Coletta complements our board of directors, and we are confident he will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to enhance our suite of solutions and services in the years ahead. We look forward to his contributions and are excited he chose Care Continuity.”
Texas Capital Bancshares makes executive appointments
Dallas-based Texas Capital Bank and its parent company, Texas Capital Bancshares, has made two executive leadership appointments: Tim Storms to chief risk officer of both companies, replacing John Turpen, who is stepping down, and Shannon Jurecka to the newly created position of chief human resources officer. Storms previously served as the chief risk officer of the Commercial Banking’s Real Estate businesses at JPMorgan Chase & Co. before stepping into the role of EVP and head of Risk Transformation at Texas Capital Bank in January 2021. In his new position as chief risk officer, he will be tasked with managing all risk functions, enterprise risk management practices and programs, and regulatory compliance. He will also oversee strategic development and the execution of continued enhancements to the company’s risk management culture and capabilities. In her new role, Jurecka will advance the company’s commitment to developing world-class talent and a high-performance culture. She will be responsible for the human capital strategy, which includes talent acquisition and development, compensation and benefits, and employee engagement. She has more than two decades of human resources leadership experience, most recently serving as SVP and chief human resources officer at Celanese Corporation. Veritex Bank adds a new Board member
Arcilia Acosta
Dallas-based Veritex Community Bank is expanding its Board of Directors with the addition of Arcilia Acosta, the founder, CEO, and president of CARCON Industries and Construction. Acosta is a 30-year business veteran who leads CARCON Industries and Construction, a full-services construction firm based in Dallas. She is also the president and controlling principal of Southwestern Testing Laboratories, a geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing firm additionally based in Dallas, and has held board level positions with some of the state’s most successful corporations. “There are not enough women in leadership positions in Texas business, let alone banking. Veritex has always been dedicated to gender parity when it comes to opportunity,” Malcolm Holland, Veritex Community Bank’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “The talent and leadership skills of Arcilia Acosta are unparalleled. As we begin developing new products and services specifically designed to help the construction industry, her depth of experience will make an impact on the bank’s growth for years to come. More importantly, her passion to champion women in business will help the communities we serve for generations.”
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DI People: Dallas Regional Chamber, MoneyGram, COMSovereign, and More Make Moves

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Pancholy will lead organization of 7,500 attorneys in 259 markets worldwide
Meritas, the global alliance of independent law firms, announced today that it has named Sona Pancholy as the organization’s next president. Pancholy is a proven leader who brings 25 years of leadership in the legal industry to the role. Most recently she was a senior leader at Bloomberg Industry Group. She previously led client relationships and business development efforts at Akin Gump, Venable LLP, and Stinson Leonard Street and was the executive director of the World Jurist Association. Pancholy earned her JD from Boston University School of Law and her LLM in international law from American University Washington College of Law. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200304005547/en/
Sona Pancholy Named President of Global Legal Network Meritas (Photo: Meritas)
As president, Pancholy will be responsible for providing Meritas with strategic leadership and working collaboratively with key stakeholders to establish and implement organizational vision and strategy. Jill Wiley, Meritas Board Chair, says, “Her proven track record of working collaboratively with a board of directors, key stakeholders, and staff, as well as her solid understanding of the evolving business of law and how to drive business opportunities through the use of technology, make her an ideal fit for the organization.”
“The collaboration opportunities between Meritas firms are endless,” said Pancholy. “Meritas is celebrating 30 years of providing a safe place for clients worldwide to find legal and business solutions. Meritas is solidly positioned to meet the diverse needs of clients looking for efficient, effective results with a service approach customized to their industries and geographies.”
Pancholy will officially assume the role immediately following the Meritas 2020 Annual Meeting in London, in May, and be based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. She succeeds Tanna Moore, who is retiring after leading Meritas for the past 14 years. About Meritas
Meritas’ global alliance of independent, market-leading law firms provides borderless legal services to companies looking to effectively capture opportunities and solve issues anywhere in the world. Companies benefit from local knowledge, collective strength and new efficiencies when they work with Meritas law firms. The personal attention and care they experience is part of Meritas’ industry-first commitment to the utmost in quality of service and putting client priorities above all else. Founded in 1990, Meritas has member firms in 259 markets worldwide with more than 7,500 dedicated, collaborative lawyers. To locate a Meritas resource for a specific need or in a certain market, visit Meritas.org or call 612-339-8680. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200304005547/en/
© Business Wire 2020

Meritas : Global Network of Law Firms Names New President

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Anderson Strathern’s Bruce Farquhar is working with partners Gillian Anderson and Carole Tomlinson on the Meritas team. Picture: Chris Watt. ANDERSON Strathern is looking to increase the scope of the international work it does after being signed up as the Scottish member of the Meritas law-firm network. As part of the network the firm will have access to over 7,000 lawyers at 183 firms in 92 counties, giving it a clear referral route when it is instructed on matters with an international element. “Over the past five years or so it has been clear to us that we need to be able to deal with the international dimension,” Anderson Strathern chairman Bruce Farquhar said. “We already have clients in India and the US and this was a nice way of building on that.”
For independent law firms like Anderson Strathern, signing up to such an organisation is seen as an alternative to having to choose between being subsumed into a global law firm and not being able to offer joined-up international advice to clients. Shepherd & Wedderburn, for example, is a member of Texas-based multi-disciplinary network World Services Group, which in addition to law firms counts accountancy practices and financial services firms among its members. Similarly, Maclay Murray & Spens was a member of Lex Mundi until it was taken over by international firm Dentons in 2017, at which point Burness Paull succeeded it as the Scottish representative on that particular network. “While we are an independent Scottish law firm we recognise the value of international business and expanding our reach outwith Europe was very much part of our growth strategy,” Mr Farquhar said. “We want to give our clients comfort that when they’re moving across the world we have access to suitably qualified lawyers in every jurisdiction, but we are just as interested in the in-bound instructions the network will give us. “We’ve been putting things out already – we’ve reached out to firms in Turkey, France and the Middle East – and we’ve had queries come in primarily from Europe.”
For the Scottish firms that have chosen to merge with a larger outfit, part of the appeal has been to be able to offer junior lawyers the opportunity to spend time gaining experiences in overseas offices. Mr Farquhar said being part of Meritas will afford Anderson Strathern’s lawyers that opportunity too. “The network is being used to promote secondments between international firms and we see that as a really important opportunity for our young lawyers,” he said. The fact the network’s member firms all operate independently in their home jurisdictions was another key consideration for the firm. “We went through a pretty strenuous due diligence process to get accepted for membership and, having been accepted as a member there are ongoing assessments to ensure it’s a robust network of firms of a suitable type – that’s reassuring to us,” Mr Farquhar said. “These are firms that have specific quality controls in place but also firms that have the same ethos to us – they have a desire to remain independent. “It’s great to be part of a network that shares the same underlying strategy as you have.”
Joining Meritas is the latest in a series of moves Anderson Strathern has taken in recent years in a bid to differentiate itself from competitors in the Scottish market. In 2017 it launched no-win, no-fee claims management business Alba Claims, with the aim of creating a flow of disputes work to the firm. Though it is a standalone business it is wholly owned by the law firm, whose partners take on the risk of funding the disputes and recoup that money as and when an award of damages is made. It has also taken steps to expand its longstanding wealth management arm Anderson Strathern Asset Management (ASAM) after taking on former Aberdeen Asset Management global distribution head John Brett as its chief executive in 2016. While the law firm channels clients to ASAM, the wealth business also has a standalone client list and, as with Alba Claims, this generates work for the firm. Though the firm has also looked into the possibility of expanding north into Dundee or Aberdeen, it has so far remained rooted in the Central Belt, where it has offices in Glasgow , Edinburgh and Haddington.

Anderson Strathern sees Meritas in law firm networking

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