Home Investments Team News Contact Us Team Gerald J. Ford Co-Managing Partner Gerald J. Ford is a Co-Managing Partner of Ford Financial Fund. Mr. Ford is one of the nation’s most accomplished financial services executives. He has acquired, managed and operated banking businesses and other financial services companies for over 40 years. Mr. Ford currently serves as a Director of Mechanics Bank, a portfolio company of Fund II and Fund III. Previously, he served as Chairman of Pacific Capital Bancorp, a portfolio company of Fund I. Mr. Ford also is the Chairman of Hilltop Holdings Inc. ("Hilltop"), a Dallas-based financial holding company with over $17 billion in assets. Mr. Ford has held this role since 2007, and is also the company's largest shareholder. Hilltop's primary line of business is to provide business and consumer banking services from offices located throughout Texas through PlainsCapital Bank. Hilltop's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTH." In addition, Mr. Ford serves as Non-Executive Chairman of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. and as a Director of Scientific Games Corp. Both of the above companies are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Ford also serves as a Trustee and on the Trusteeship Committee at Southern Methodist University ("S.M.U."). He is on the Executive Board of the S.M.U. School of Law, is a Trustee of Southwestern Medical Foundation and Children’s Medical Foundation and is a member of the Board of Overseers of Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University. Mr. Ford holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from S.M.U. Carl B. Webb Co-Managing Partner Carl B. Webb is a Co-Managing Partner of Ford Financial Fund. Mr. Webb has more than 35 years of experience in the banking industry, including working with Mr. Ford for over 30 years. Mr. Webb currently serves as Chairman of Mechanics Bank, a portfolio company of Fund II and Fund III. Previously, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Capital Bancorp, a portfolio company of Fund I. From 1994 to 2002, Mr. Webb was President, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of Golden State Bancorp and California Federal Bank, FSB. As well, he served as a Director of First Nationwide Mortgage Corporation and Auto One Acceptance Corporation, each wholly-owned subsidiaries of California Federal Bank. Prior to Golden State Bancorp, Mr. Webb served as President and Chief Operating Officer of First Gibraltar Bank, FSB from its formation in 1988 until its sale in 1994. He initially joined First United Bank Group, Inc. as President of First National Bank Lubbock in 1983. Mr. Webb currently serves as a Director of Hilltop Holdings Inc. and Prologis, Inc. Mr. Webb received a B.B.A. degree from West Texas A&M University and attended the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. C.J. Johnson Partner C.J. Johnson is a Partner of Ford Financial Fund. Mr. Johnson previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mechanics Bank, a portfolio company of Fund II and Fund III, and as Senior Vice President and Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, a portfolio company of Fund I. Mr. Johnson joined Santa Barbara Bank & Trust from Flexpoint Ford, where he was an Associate and assisted with the execution of the firm's financial services investments. Mr. Johnson started his career as an investment banking Analyst with Credit Suisse, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions and capital raising advisory assignments for financial institutions. Mr. Johnson holds a B.A. in economics, with highest distinction and honors, from the University of Michigan. He was the recipient of the Harold D. Osterweil Memorial Prize in economics for graduating at the top of his class while also displaying a high degree of social awareness. Mr. Johnson currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Richmond Housing Renovation, LLC, a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce vacant and blighted single-family housing in vulnerable low-income neighborhoods of Richmond, California. Richmond Housing Renovation, LLC is funded by a $3 million social impact bond financed solely by Mechanics Bank. Kenneth D. Russell Partner Kenneth D. Russell is a Partner of Ford Financial Fund. Mr. Russell currently serves as a Director of Mechanics Bank, a portfolio company of Fund II and Fund III, after previously serving as Chief Executive Officer of the bank for two years. Mr. Russell’s background includes more than four decades of financial services experience. Over a long career at KPMG, he rose from a staff accountant in the U.S. division to become a member of KPMG Germany’s managing Board of Directors. During 20 years in the Dallas office he led the engagement efforts with the firm’s regional banking, thrift and other financial service clients. In 1993, Mr. Russell joined KPMG’s national office in New York and led their financial services advisory unit which supported many of the nation’s largest banks. In 2001, he was asked to join the Managing Board for KPMG in Germany, where he served as the global lead partner in the firm’s relationship with Deustche Bank. The job entailed managing and consulting on banking operations in over 50 countries for the multi-national German bank. Despite the fact that he spoke no German and had no experience in Europe, he turned the Deutsche Bank account into one of KPMG’s top 10 accounts within four years. Mr. Russell retired from the KPMG Germany Managing Board in 2008 in order to lead a new Partner Mentoring Program for KPMG’s offices throughout Europe, working to help young professionals become category and practice leaders. He joined Ford Financial Fund in 2010 as a Partner, bringing his vast banking experience to the organization. In addition to his role as a Director of Mechanics Bank, Mr. Russell serves on the Board of Directors of Hilltop Holdings, Inc. and First Acceptance Corp. Mr. Russell’s roots are Midwestern—he was born in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in Farwell, Michigan. After a stint in the US Air Force, he attended the University of North Texas and graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Accounting. Jonathan S. Sobel Partner Jonathan S. Sobel is a Partner of Ford Financial Fund. In addition, Mr. Sobel is Managing Member of DTF Holdings, LLC, an investment manager for and advisor to entities affiliated with Mr. Ford. Prior to his partnership with Mr. Ford, Mr. Sobel was an employee of Goldman Sachs & Co. from 1987 to 2008, and he was a Partner Managing Director from 1998 to 2008. While at Goldman Sachs, Mr. Sobel was Global Head of the Mortgage Department, Global Head of Money Markets, Head of the firm’s Global Bank Group, and the Chief Risk Officer for Goldman Sachs Asset Management. He was also a member of Goldman Sachs’ Capital, Risk and Finance Committees. Mr. Sobel is a Trustee of the Hospital for Special Surgery, the Whitney Museum, the Dalton School, and the Public Art Fund. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Columbia College Alumni Association. Mr. Sobel has received Columbia College’s John Jay Award for Alumni Achievement, their Dean’s Award for service to the College and he is a University Benefactor. He holds an A.B. in Economics from Columbia. Richard P. Hodge Vice President Richard P. Hodge is a Vice President of Ford Financial Fund. Mr. Hodge has over 30 years tax experience primarily focused on federal and state taxation of financial institutions, including structuring acquisitions, mergers, spinoffs and divestitures for both public and privately held businesses. Mr. Hodge has worked at Mr. Ford's family office since 2002 and is responsible for all areas of taxation. From 1995 to 2002, he was an Executive Vice President for Golden State Bancorp and California Federal Bank where he was responsible for the institution’s tax department. Prior to 1995, Mr. Hodge was a tax partner with the Dallas office of KPMG. Gary Shultz Vice President Gary Shultz is a Vice President of Ford Financial Fund. Mr. Shultz has worked with Mr. Ford for over 20 years across various private family entities. Mr. Shultz has over 55 years of combined experience in financial services, manufacturing, and the restaurant franchise industry. Mr. Shultz started his career in 1964 as a Certified Public Accountant at Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young). He left as a Manager in 1971 to become Chief Financial Officer, and one year later, as President of the largest women’s apparel manufacturer in Dallas. In 1980, Mr. Shultz and other investors acquired an apparel manufacturer, where Mr. Shultz served as President and Co-Owner until the firm was sold in 1987. In 1988, Mr. Shultz and other investors started a company that owned and operated multiple Burger King franchises. He served as Chief Financial Officer and Co-Owner until the company was sold in 2000. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Shultz joined as Chief Financial Officer of Mr. Ford's family office. Mr. Shultz received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Texas. Courtney Hampton Chief Financial Officer Courtney Hampton is the Chief Financial Officer of Ford Financial Fund. In addition, Mrs. Hampton serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Mr. Ford’s private family business entities and oversees daily operations of the family office. Prior to joining Ford Financial Fund and Mr. Ford’s family office, Mrs. Hampton was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young within the audit group, where during her 14-year tenure she served both public and private financial services companies, including private equity funds and insurance companies. Mrs. Hampton is a Certified Public Accountant in Texas and a member in the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and Texas CPA Society. Mrs. Hampton received her Master of Science in Accounting from Southern Methodist University and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. Contact Us (214) 871-5151 info@fordfundlp.com Address 6565 Hillcrest Avenue, 6th Floor Dallas, Texas 75205 Copyright © 2021 Ford Financial Fund All rights reserved. Created with SpaceCraft