Gray Reed has hired a veteran strategy officer with experience driving growth, the firm announced Wednesday in a news release.
Houston-based Matthew Childress will serve as the firm’s new chief growth & operations officer, where he’ll be charged with driving strategic initiatives and further developing support infrastructure around Gray Reed’s practice areas, according to the release.
Childress brings a notable background in advisory and consulting, including a focus on energy. Before joining Gray Reed, he was at Houston-based Opportune for nearly two years, where he led the business advisory firm’s growth initiatives as its chief strategy officer. Before that, Childress spent more than a decade at PwC, serving as its managing director in charge of U.S. core business development for his final two years there.
“Matthew is the perfect candidate to lead our firm forward as our new Chief Growth and Operations Officer,” said Gray Reed Managing Partner Kyle Sanders in the release. “He brings a wealth of experience and a strong focus on growth strategies as we look to him to further our strategic plan and continue to drive our firm forward.”
Childress replaces Mark Gargiulo, who will now focus exclusively on Gray Reed Advisory. “I would like to thank everyone at Gray Reed for allowing me to be a part of this dynamic firm. I look forward to working with Matthew to ensure a seamless transition and then turning my attention to Advisory Services,” Gargiulo said in the release.
“Gray Reed is an exceptional law firm and has earned its reputation as one of the leading firms not just in the State of Texas, but in the country,” Childress said in the release. “I appreciate the confidence they have shown in me and will do everything within my power to continue the juggernaut of success it has earned.”
Childress’ wife, Wendie, is a former Yetter Coleman partner who is now managing director for Westfleet Advisors.
EDUCATION
Undergraduate: The University of Texas (BBA)
Advanced: The University of Houston (MBA)