Chairman Archives - Page 2 of 2

DroneUp taps former NFL exec as board chair

Virginia Beach-based DroneUp LLC announced Tuesday that former NFL executive Eric Grubman is the company’s new board chairman.

“Eric is incredibly respected across many business sectors for his tremendous vision, insight and passion for technology,” DroneUp CEO and founder Tom Walker said in a statement. “We are truly fortunate to have him as our chairman of the board to tap into that well of experience as we continue to innovate and keep the end user’s needs at the forefront of every decision.”

Grubman, who was executive vice president of the NFL from 2004 to 2018, said, “I strongly believe in technology’s capacity to improve people’s lives. Drone operations have proven to be value-added in advancing safe and reliable options for consumers, patients and business organizations. I believe DroneUp has the ability to drive a set of worldwide industry standards.”

A special purpose acquisition company that Grubman founded in 2020, Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp., merged this year with Super Group, the parent company of online gambling platforms Betway and Spin. The merger created a $4.75 billion publicly traded holding company, SGHC Ltd., which Grubman chairs and that continues to operate under the Super Group brand.

Prior to his time with the NFL, Grubman served as co-president of Baltimore-based Constellation Energy Group. He began his career with Goldman Sachs, starting in the firm’s mergers and acquisitions department in 1987. In 1996, he was elected partner and became co-head of its energy and power group. He also spearheaded Goldman’s strategic advisory efforts in its professional sports division.

DroneUp provides aerial data collection, training, program integration and equipment sales and is an authorized government drone services provider in 13 states. It has more than 190 active waivers and authorizations with the Federal Aviation Administration. Walker founded the company in 2016. In December 2021, Walmart Inc. and DroneUp partnered on drone delivery operations. DroneUp also acquired air traffic management software company AirMap Inc. in December 2021.

Mitre elects next chairman

The Mitre Corp.’s Board of Trustees elected Mike Rogers as chairman, the McLean- and Bedford, Massachusetts-based nonprofit announced Nov. 16.

Rogers joined Mitre’s board in 2016 and has served as vice chairman since 2018.

“Mike’s vast national security expertise and experience help strengthen MITRE’s whole-of-nation impact in global strategic competition and our work to help secure our economy, industrial base, borders, climate and airspace,” Mitre President and CEO Jason Providakes said in a statement.

From 2001 to 2015, Rogers represented Michigan’s 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served on the Energy and Commerce Committee and chaired the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Before becoming a congressman, Rogers was an officer in the U.S. Army and an FBI special agent. He has also served in the Michigan State Senate.

Rogers founded the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs after leaving public office. He is the host and executive producer of “Declassified: Untold Stories of American Spies,” a six-part CNN series.

Donald Kerr, the outgoing chairman, served on the board for 12 years and has served as chairman since 2018. He led the board through the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the launch of its tech foundation, Mitre Engenuity.

The Mitre Corp. is a not-for-profit organization that manages federally funded research and development centers. Mitre was founded in 1958 and has 8,400 employees.

VEDP’s new board chair is Dewberry COO

Dan Pleasant, chief operating officer for Fairfax-based planning, design and construction company Dewberry, has been named chair of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors.

His two-year term began July 1. The motion to approve Pleasant’s nomination passed unanimously during the 17-member board’s April 29 meeting. Pleasant has served on VEDP’s board for 10 years.

“Today, I am proud to say that the VEDP organization is a high-functioning organization with great leadership,” Pleasant said in a statement. “Additionally, we have a very engaged board of directors that supports VEDP’s leadership and advocates for support of the organization and programs that cover the entire state, including rural Virginia.”

Created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995, VEDP supports the commonwealth’s economic development, with focuses on business recruitment, expansion and international trade.

Tom Farrell retiring from Dominion Energy

After 14 years leading Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc., Thomas F. Farrell II is retiring as the utility’s executive chairman, effective April 1, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings submitted by the Fortune 500 company last week. Farrell is also stepping down from the company’s board of directors; he will remain on for two months as a special adviser to Dominion President and CEO Robert Blue, who also takes over as board chairman April 1.

“Tom has been an extraordinary leader and mentor to all of us at Dominion Energy, running the company with a nimble, steady hand,” Blue said in a communication to Dominion employees. “We have all benefited, and will continue to do so, from his vision and commitment to improve the communities we serve and build the most sustainable energy company in America.”

Farrell could not be reached for comment for this story.

His retirement comes on the heels of a March 23 announcement that Farrell was also stepping down from Henrico County-based Altria Group Inc.’s board of directors, which Farrell has chaired since April 2020. Farrell’s retirements from Dominion and Altria were both filed with the SEC on the same day. He had previously transitioned from Dominion’s president and CEO to executive chair in October 2020, leading to Blue’s ascension as Dominion’s top leader.

One of the state’s most powerful leaders, Farrell also chairs the state GO Virginia board, which allocates funding for economic development projects across Virginia. He has served on the boards of visitors for Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia, for which he also served as rector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a law degree from the University of Virginia.

A former Army brat, he wrote, funded and produced the 2014 film, “Field of Lost Shoes,” which focused on the 250 teen cadets from Virginia Military Institute who fought for the Confederates during the Battle of New Market in 1864.

Dominion’s annual revenue for 2020 was $14.17 billion. Under Farrell’s leadership, Dominion tripled its philanthropic giving and came close to doubling its earnings per share.

Farrell joined Dominion in 1995 as its general counsel, having previously represented the company as part of a team of attorneys at McGuireWoods. He became its president and CEO in 2006. He was elected chairman of its board in 2007.

In recent years, Farrell has led the utility towards more sustainable sources of energy, including expansions into solar and offshore wind.

Last summer, Dominion canceled its long-delayed $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline and sold its gas transmission and storage business to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. for almost $10 billion, with Farrell saying that Dominion would be narrowing its focus on its utilities business. As part of a state initiative to shift to carbon-free energy production by 2050, Dominion last year completed the pilot phase of its proposed $7.8 billion, 2,640-megawatt wind farm 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. Scheduled for completion in 2026, it is planned to be the nation’s largest offshore wind farm, with at least 180 giant wind turbines.

Farrell has also been a prime player in state and local politics. He served on Gov. Bob McDonnell’s five-person transition committee and also led the Virginia Governor’s Commission on Higher Education Reform. Farrell’s son Peter served three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates. And Farrell’s brother-in-law is former state Attorney General Richard Cullen, former chairman of McGuireWoods.

In early 2020, amid community opposition, Richmond City Council defeated the $1.5 billion Navy Hill downtown redevelopment plan Farrell had spearheaded in an attempt to replace the aging Richmond Coliseum.

Among his many civic positions, Farrell is a past chairman of the Edison Electric Institute and is a past member of the board of trustees for both the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

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Dominion Energy’s Tom Farrell to retire from Altria board

Dominion Energy Inc. Executive Chair Thomas F. Farrell II is retiring from Altria Group Inc.’s board of directors, which he has chaired since April 2020.

Farrell has served on the Henrico County-based tobacco product manufacturer’s board of directors since 2008. He will retire from the Altria board when his term ends in May.

Altria’s board intends to appoint its next chairman on May 20, following the company’s annual shareholders meeting.

“Tom’s contributions over the past 13 years have been immeasurable,” said Altria CEO Billy Gifford. “We thank him for his distinguished service and wish him the very best.”

In addition to serving as Altria’s board chairman, Farrell chaired the board’s executive committee and was a member of several committees, including Corporate Governance.

Farrell transitioned from his 13-year role as Dominion’s chairman, president and CEO in October 2020, taking the position of executive chair for the Richmond-based utility.