MERITAGE HOMES CORPORATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Independent Director
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Executive Compensation Committee
- Audit / Executive Compensation
Mr. Bradford has been a director since August 2009. In 2012, Mr. Bradford cofounded and was appointed and currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of C3 Brands, the parent company to a number of consumer brands. From 2005 to 2012, Mr. Bradford was the president and managing partner of McCarthy Capital Corporation, a private equity firm. He also serves as a director on the boards of Southwest Value Partners, a San Diego-based real estate company and Customer Service Profiles, an Omaha-based provider of customer satisfaction data and analytics. Mr. Bradford formerly served as chairman of the board of Vornado Air, a Wichita-based consumer brands company and formerly served as a director on the boards of McCarthy Groups, Ballantyne, NRG Media, Guild Mortgage and Gold Circle Films.
Mr. Bradford earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Creighton University. Mr. Bradford brings additional perspective to the Board relating to real estate and corporate finance matters.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Independent Director
- Environmental, Social and Sustainability
Ms. Henretta has been a director since March 2016. Ms. Henretta retired from the Proctor & Gamble, Co. ('P&G') in 2015. Throughout her 30 years at P&G, she held various senior positions throughout several sectors, serving as President of Global e-Business, while concurrently serving as President/Senior Executive Officer of Global Beauty Care, President of Global Baby Care; and Vice President of Fabric Conditioners and Bleach. She has been a director at Corning, Inc. since 2013, at Nisource Inc. since 2015, at American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) since 2019 and previously at Staples, Inc. from 2016 to September 2017 when Staples was acquired by Sycamore Partners, a private equity investor. Ms. Henretta is a Partner at Council Advisors (formerly G100 Companies) where she assisted in establishing a New Director Board Excellence Program that includes director education on board oversight, governance including digital transformation and cybersecurity. Ms. Henretta graduated summa cum laude from St. Bonaventure University with a BA in communications in 1983 and received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from St. Bonaventure University in 2010. She earned her MA in Advertising from Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1985.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Investor Relations and ESG
Job Titles:
- Director
- Independent Director
- Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
- Founder of Haddock Enterprises
- Nominating and Corporate Governance
Mr. Haddock has been a director since January 2005. Mr. Haddock is the founder of Haddock Enterprises, LLC and formerly served as president and CEO of Crescent Real Estate Equities, a diversified real estate investment trust. He is currently a director of ENSCO International, Plc., a leading global offshore oil and gas drilling service company. As a director for ENSCO, he has served as its co-lead director and Chairperson of the Audit Committee and is also a member of the Nominating & Governance Committee. Mr. Haddock is also a director of Union Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition corporation, and has served in this capacity since December 2018. From December 2004 to October 2008, Mr. Haddock served as a Board Member of Cano Petroleum, Inc. He also serves on the board of trustees and is a member of various committees for the Baylor College of Medicine, the Baylor Executive Investment Committee at Baylor University, the M.D. Anderson Proton Therapy Education and Research Foundation, and the CEELI Institute. Mr. Haddock received his Bachelor of business administration and Juris Doctorate degrees from Baylor University. He also received a Master of Laws in Taxation degree from New York University and a MBA degree from Dallas Baptist University.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Independent Director
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Audit
Mr. Keough has been a director since June 2019. He currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Wood Partners, one of the nation's largest multifamily real estate companies. Since its founding in 1998, Wood Partners has acquired and developed more than 75,000 multifamily homes with a combined capitalization of more than $13.1 billion nationwide. Before joining Wood Partners, Keough acted as chief operating officer of Fuqua Capital, the office for the Atlanta-based Fuqua family. Keough had also been a senior vice president in the office and multifamily division of Cousins Properties, a publicly traded REIT, as well as a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group. Mr. Keough is also on the board of directors of Interface, Inc. (NASDAQ: IFSIA). Mr. Keough earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and received his BS degree in finance and economics from Babson College. Mr. Keough brings a 23-year track record of strong business leadership, deep understanding of real estate and first-hand experience driving organizational transformation.
Job Titles:
- Independent Director
- Member of the Executive Compensation Committee
- Executive Compensation
Mr. Caldera, a private investor and consultant, brings to the Meritage Board a rich background spanning leadership positions in higher education, military, and public service. Mr. Caldera served as Secretary of the Army under the Clinton administration and as Director of the White House Military Office under the Obama administration. He began his career as an Army officer and from 1992 to 1997 served in the California State Assembly. Since 2001, Mr. Caldera has worked in higher education, including as a vice chancellor for The California State University and as president of The University of New Mexico. Most recently he served as a distinguished adjunct professor of law in the program on law and government at American University Washington College of Law from 2018 to 2021.
Mr. Caldera has served on numerous corporate boards and on several nonprofit boards and commissions. He serves as a member of the board of directors of Granite Construction and DallasNews Corp, where he also chairs the compensation and management development committee. He previously served as a member of the board of directors for Southwest Airlines Co., Career Education Corp. and IndyMac Bancorp, Inc. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, Mr. Caldera is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Latino Corporate Directors Association, and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Independent Director
- Member of the Executive Compensation Committee
- Executive Compensation
Mr. Odell has been a director since December 2011. Since 2017, he has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Marubeni Automotive Aftermarket Holdings LLC, a holding company for investments in the automotive aftermarket. He also currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of XL Parts LLC, and as Chief Executive Officer of The Parts House, both automotive parts distributors. From 2015 through 2016, he served as President of Eastern Auto Parts Warehouse, an automotive parts distributor. From 2008 through 2014, he served as President, Chief Executive Officer and board member of The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack, a NYSE-listed company. Mr. Odell joined Pep Boys in 2007 as Chief Operating Officer. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sears Retail & Specialty Stores, a $26 billion division of Sears Holdings Corporation.
Mr. Odell started his career as a CPA with Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Odell holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. Mr. Odell has deep service, retail and distribution experience, with a broad background in strategic planning, leadership, sales, operations and finance.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Executive Vice President
Mr. Clint Szubinski became the Chief Operating Officer of Meritage Homes on January 1, 2021. Mr. Szubinski served as South Region President of Meritage Homes from 2018 to 2020. Prior to this, he extended his experience in the homebuilding industry, working in senior management roles at K. Hovnanian and Cal-Atlantic from 2014 to 2018. From 2011-2014, he was the Florida Region President at Meritage Homes. Mr. Szubinski initially started at Meritage Homes as Vice President of Land Acquisition and Entitlement in Orlando, Florida and briefly moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to lead the startup of the Raleigh Division. Previously, Mr. Szubinski was the Gulf Coast Division President at KB Home from 2005-2009.
Mr. Szubinski received his bachelor's degree in business administration and political science as well as a law degree from Louisiana State University.
Job Titles:
- Chief People Officer
- Executive Vice President
Mr. Javier Feliciano has served as Chief People Officer of Meritage Homes since 2015. Prior to joining Meritage Homes, Mr. Feliciano previously held leadership positions at Ford Motor Company, PepsiCo, Apollo Education Group, and Valeo.
Mr. Feliciano received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice as well as a master's degree in human resources and labor relations from Michigan State University. Mr. Feliciano also completed Cornell University's executive development program for the modern CHRO role. He serves as a board member of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Phillippe Lord became the Chief Executive Officer of Meritage Homes on January 1, 2021. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Meritage Homes from 2015 to 2020. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Lord was President of the West Region at Meritage Homes. Mr. Lord began his career at Meritage Homes in 2008 by creating the Company's strategic operations and market research department, which analyzes land acquisitions, product and pricing.
Prior to joining Meritage Homes, Mr. Lord held leadership positions with Acacia Capital, Centex Homes and Pinnacle West Capital. Mr. Lord received a bachelor's degree in economics and business from Colorado State University and completed his master's coursework in economics at the University of Arizona.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Executive Vice President
Ms. Hilla Sferruzza has served as Chief Financial Officer of Meritage Homes since 2016. Previously, she was the Chief Accounting Officer (from 2010-2021) and Corporate Controller of Meritage Homes (2010-2015). Her career at Meritage Homes started in 2006 serving in accounting, finance and financial reporting management roles. Prior to joining Meritage Homes, Ms. Sferruzza worked in various leadership positions at KPMG and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- General Counsel
- Secretary
Ms. Malissia Clinton became the General Counsel of Meritage Homes on April 18, 2022. Prior to joining Meritage Homes, Ms. Clinton spent 12 years at The Aerospace Corporation, most recently serving as the senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. From 1998 to 2009, she served in multiple management positions at Northrop Grumman including the senior counsel for special projects in the Office of the General Counsel. Following law school, Ms. Clinton worked as a litigator at the law firm Tuttle and Taylor from 1993 to 1998.
Ms. Clinton received a bachelor's degree in political science at Arizona State University, earned a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School and completed the UCLA Anderson School's Executive Program in Business Management. She serves as a board director of 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD) and its Compliance Committee Chair as well as a board director of Pacaso. She was formerly a board director of Progyny, Inc. (NASDAQ: PGNY) and a member of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Additionally, she is a board director of the Arizona State University Foundation and previously was the former chair of the Aerospace Diversity Action Committee and board director of the National Defense Industrial Association.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Independent Director
- Member of the Executive Compensation Committee
- Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
- Executive Compensation / Nominating and Corporate Governance
- Founder and CEO of Equipt Women
Ms. Mooney has been a director since March 2020. Ms. Mooney is the Founder and CEO of Equipt Women, an inclusive learning community dedicated to empowering and upskilling young professional women. She was previously a co-owner of Resource/Ammirati, a digital marketing and customer experience innovation firm, and hald various positions of leadership including Chief Executive Officer from January 2011 to September 2017; President from June 2001 to January 2011; and Chief Experience Officer and Director of Intelligence from March 1995 to May 2001. During that tenure, she advised dozens of Fortune 500 executives on customer growth strategy and digital transformation to increase shareholder value. In 2016, Resource/Ammirati was sold to IBM to become part of IBM iX, one of the world's largest digital consultancies. Ms. Mooney joined IBM iX in September 2017 and served as Chief Experience Officer until June 2018. She advises consumer and technology-focused entrepreneurs on leadership, strategy and innovation.
Ms. Mooney has also served as a board member of Sally Beauty Supply Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SBH), an international specialty retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies and J. Jill Inc. (NYSE: JILL), an omnichannel women's apparel brand. She graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from The Ohio State University. Ms. Mooney brings additional perspective on innovation, sustainability, diversity and inclusion.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Director
- Lead Independent Director
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
- Audit
Mr. Ax has been a director since September 2000 and is the Company's lead independent director. He is the CEO of UpscriptHealth, a telemedicine-based software platform which facilitates pharmaceutical manufacturers selling medications direct-to-consumer. He is also the managing partner of Phoenix Capital Management, an operationally focused venture capital firm. Mr. Ax is the former chairman and chief executive officer of SpinCycle, Inc., a public reporting consolidator and developer of coin-operated laundromats. Previously, Mr. Ax served as head of the Private Equity Division and senior vice president of Lehman Brothers in New York and has served in various operating roles for enterprises operated by Phoenix Capital Management. Mr. Ax also served on the board of directors of iGo, Inc. (formerly, NASDAQ: IGOI) from 2007 to January 2022. Mr. Ax holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a J.D. from the University of Arizona, and a B.S.B.A. from the University of Arizona, and has been a certified public accountant. Mr. Ax possesses extensive skills and experience relating to, among other things, capital markets and corporate finance.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Independent Director
- Member of the Executive Compensation Committee
- Environmental, Social and Sustainability / Executive Compensation / Land
Mr. Oppel has been a director since December 1997. Mr. Oppel is a licensed real estate broker and currently is active as a private investor in real estate development. He was the co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer of The Oppel Jenkins Group, a regional homebuilder in Texas and New Mexico, which was sold in 1995 to the public homebuilder KB Home. Mr. Oppel has almost 30 years of experience in the homebuilding business. Mr. Oppel possesses extensive knowledge about the real estate industry in general and the homebuilding industry in particular.
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman of the Board
Mr. Steve Hilton is the Executive Chairman of Meritage Homes and a member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Hilton led Meritage Homes for 35 years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2006 until his retirement on December 31, 2020. From 1997 to 2006, Mr. Hilton was Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Meritage Homes. In 1985, Mr. Hilton cofounded Arizona-based Monterey Homes, the predecessor company to Meritage Homes. Under Mr. Hilton's leadership, Monterey became publicly traded in 1997.
Mr. Hilton received a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Arizona. He serves as Chairman of the Board for Banner Health Foundation as well as a board member for Western Alliance Bancorporation, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN) Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Foundation.