Chuck Harris Named New Executive Director of the Texas Exes

By Danielle Lopez in Association on November 13, 2017 at 3:15 pm | No Comments

After an almost year-long search, the Texas Exes has found a new leader.

Chuck Harris, BBA ’86, Life Member, president of the Total System Services company Netspend, has been named the seventh executive director in the Ex-Students’ Association’s over 130-year history.

Harris was chosen from a national search conducted by a committee of alumni volunteers, chapter leaders, and members of the Texas Exes staff. The association employed the Austin-based firm of Lehman Associations whose principal, Jan Lehman, personally oversaw the project. After Leslie Cedar stepped down from her role as executive director at the end of 2016, Todd Maclin, BBA ’78, and Will O’Hara, BBA ’68, Life Members, served as interim co-executive directors.

“Out of hundreds of candidates, Chuck was the clear winner and the committee favored him unanimously,” said Del Williams, BBA ’83, JD ’85, Life Member, president of the Texas Exes, and a member of the search committee. “He is a natural leader who has been continuously successful since the earliest stages of his career. He has a great sense of pride in his alma mater and a passion for helping people fulfill their potential. I cannot imagine a better fit for this job.”

Harris comes to the Texas Exes with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Netspend since 2010, leading a company that serves an estimated 68 million consumers without access to traditional bank accounts through prepaid debit cards. In that role, he also partnered with the Austin Community Foundation to establish the Netspend Foundation, which grants tuition assistance to customers.

Harris says, “It’s a dream come true to return to my alma mater and spend my days supporting the institution that changed my life for the better. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Harris starts at the Texas Exes on Jan. 2, 2018.

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