Send your company’s executive hires and promotions to D CEO associate**editor Layten Praytor at[email protected]
King & Spalding
Steve Stodghill, Partner
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Steve Stodghill is joining Tom Melsheimer at King & Spalding from Winston & Strawn. The long-time commercial litigator has represented high-profile clients, including Fortune 500 companies, professional athletes, and actors and celebrities. Over the course of his career, Stodghill has represented more than 25 billionaires, including former Dallas Mavericks majority owner and founder of Cost Plus Drugs Mark Cuban, for more than three decades. Since 2019, he has also served as the public safety commissioner for the State of Texas, appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Education: The University of Texas at Austin (JD, BA)
Natalie Arbaugh, Partner
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Natalie Arbaugh is also making the move to King & Spalding following her tenure as part of Winston & Strawn’s executive and partner compensation committees. Arbaugh has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants across multiple industries in state and federal courts. She specializes in complex, high-profile business and intellectual property disputes, trademark litigation, and more.
Education: Southern Methodist University (JD), University of Florida (BA)
American National Bank of Texas
Chris Cronin,** President
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American National Bank of Texas has promoted Chris Cronin to president. With the bank for over 37 years, Cronin was most recently senior executive vice president and COO. Robert Hulsey, formerly president and CEO, will remain CEO in a more strategic role. As president, Cronin will oversee daily operations and be responsible for banking, mortgage, and select corporate functions, including financial management, risk oversight, and operational strategy. He will work with executive leadership to advance both short- and long-term priorities.
Education: Southern Methodist University (MBA), East Texas A&M University (BS)
HTeaO
Chris Phillips, Chief Financial Officer
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Chris Phillips will be the new CFO at HTeaO. With a focus on strengthening financial and technological infrastructure, he will support franchisee profitability and execute a long-term growth strategy as the brand scales nationally. He has more than two decades of experience leading finance and strategy for franchised, multi-brand restaurant organizations, previously serving on the executive team that supported Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen’s $1.8 billion sale to Restaurant Brands International. He also led finance and strategy initiatives for growth and acquisitions at Darden Restaurants.
Education: University of Florida (MBA), University of Central Florida (BS)
Varsity Brands
Satish Mehta, Chief Technology and Product Officer
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Satish Mehta has been appointed chief technology and product officer at Varsity Brands. In this new role, Mehta will lead product and technology strategy, develop digital platforms, data-driven experiences, and secure systems, and deliver products that simplify how teams, coaches, athletes, and employees engage with technology. With over 20 years of experience in large-scale technology, data, and digital transformations, he was most recently CTO at Chewy, with prior roles at UnitedHealth Group and Staples.
Education: California Miramar University (MBA), Jawahar Lal Nehru University (BS)
KDC
Robert Child, Executive Vice President of Data Center Development
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KDC has brought in Robert Child as executive vice president of data center development. In his role, Child will lead and scale the firm’s nationwide data center platform, overseeing strategy, site development, capital alignment, and the delivery of complex, mission-critical facilities. Child has over 15 years of experience in delivering build-to-suit projects and data center solutions to large-scale clients. He has had previous leadership roles at CyrusOne and at Structure Tone’s Mission Critical group in New York.
Education: Columbia University (MS), University of Maryland (BA)
Foley & Lardner
J.P. Vogel, Partner
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J.P. Vogel has joined Foley & Lardner as a partner in the construction group and manufacturing sector. He advises private equity firms, owners, developers, subcontractors, suppliers, and manufacturers on construction projects, acquisitions, and operations. He manages transactions and risk for industrial, manufacturing, data center, AI, energy, infrastructure, transportation, and commercial projects.
Education: St. Mary’s University (JD), Texas A&M (BA)
Board Appointments
NYSE Texas
NYSE Texas has launched the NYSE Texas Advisory Board. Founding members include Amanda Brock, co-CEO of Solaris Energy Infrastructure; Scott Mueller, managing director of Goldman Sachs’ Southwest Region; and Edward Crawford, co-founder and co-CEO of Coltala Holdings. NYSE Texas reached the 100 dual-listings threshold in December 2025.
Authors
Layten Praytor
Layten Praytor
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Layten Praytor is an associate editor for D CEO, the business title for D Magazine. After five years in sports journalism, including with the Dallas Cowboys, Layten joined D CEO in 2024. He's written about and local execs who immigrated to the U.S., such as His first cover story was on When not telling stories, he's likely watching the Los Angeles Dodgers.