Dallas Business Leaders

Brian Ferriso became the Eugene McDermott Director of the Dallas Museum of Art in December 2025 after nearly two decades leading the Portland Art Museum.

Chris McLaughlin became CEO of DFW International Airport in May 2025 after running its operations division since 2021.

Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky has been president of UT Southwestern Medical Center since 2008, after a career at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Daniel W. Pullin became TCU’s 11th chancellor in May 2025 after serving as president and as dean of the Neeley School of Business.

Dean Fearing, the chef behind Fearing’s at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, helped define Southwestern cuisine during 20 years at The Mansion on Turtle Creek.

Jay Hartzell became SMU’s 11th president in June 2025 after leading the University of Texas at Austin. A finance scholar, he was named to D CEO’s 2027 Dallas 500.

Justin Lonon has been chancellor of Dallas College since March 2022, after more than 15 years in leadership roles at the college.

Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, the physician known as the father of aerobics, founded Cooper Aerobics in Dallas in 1970. He is a Living Legend in D CEO’s 2027 Dallas 500.

Michael Sorrell has led Paul Quinn College since 2007 and built its urban work college model. He is the longest-serving president in the college’s history.

Prabhas V. Moghe is the sixth president of UT Dallas, a bioengineer who came from Rutgers in 2025. He was named to D CEO’s 2027 Dallas 500.

Ross Perot Jr. founded Hillwood, developed AllianceTexas and once owned the Dallas Mavericks. He is a Living Legend in D CEO’s 2027 Dallas 500.