David Brooks Named VP for Finance and Administration
David R. Brooks, a Baylor University graduate and chairman/CEO of McKinney-based First Bank Group, has been named vice president for finance and administration at Baylor, President Robert B. Sloan Jr. announced today. He succeeds Harold R. Cunningham, who will become vice president for special projects at the university.
Brooks, who will begin the transition to his appointment in mid-August and will join the administration full-time on Oct. 1, also serves as president of Paloduro Investments, a real estate and commercial investment firm.
"Baylor owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Harold Cunningham for coming out of retirement with Arthur Andersen four years ago to give leadership to our finance and administration area," Sloan said. "He has made very important contributions to this critical area and has laid a solid foundation for David to build upon. I am grateful that Harold will remain a part of the executive council and provide leadership for a number of important projects that will have a major impact on the campus. He also will be a valuable resource to David as he makes the transition to this new responsibility.
"I am thrilled that David is joining the university in this capacity," Sloan said. "His extensive financial and executive experience, combined with his commitment to educational issues and to Baylor's mission, will allow him to provide effective leadership for our finance and administration division."
As vice president for finance and administration, Brooks will be responsible for Baylor's budget, business, controller's, and treasurer's offices; the Information Technology Center; purchasing and campus services; Ferrell Special Events Center; Center for Community Research and Development; and the university's Institute for Technology Innovation Management.
Brooks, currently president of the McKinney Independent School District board of trustees, heads a seven-bank holding group in North Texas. He formerly served as chairman and CEO of First McKinney Bancshares Inc. and Farmersville Bancshares Inc. His other banking experience includes serving as president and CEO of Texas Commerce Bank - Brookhollow in Dallas, and various positions with Republic National Bank of Dallas.
"I am tremendously excited about the opportunity to come back to Baylor University," Brooks said. "I am extremely impressed with the vision that Dr. Sloan and the Board of Regents have for Baylor. It is a vision that I share, and I hope to use my background and experience to help the university fulfill that vision. It is going to be a tremendous service opportunity. Besides family and business, my two greatest passions are Christian service and education. The opportunity to bring together those two passions and to serve in that capacity at Baylor is very attractive to me."
A 1980 graduate of Baylor's Hankamer School of Business, Brooks also holds a master of business administration degree from the university. He is currently a member of the board of directors for the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, the Baylor Foundation board of directors, and the board of advisers for George W. Truett Theological Seminary. He is a member and lay director of finance and education at Crosspoint Church, a Baptist General Convention of Texas-funded mission of First Baptist Church, McKinney.
Brooks has been a member of the McKinney school board since 1995 and previously served on the Farmersville school board. His other community activities include McKinney Rotary Club, McKinney Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Collin County United Way board of directors, and the McKinney Economic Development Corp.
Brooks and his wife, Carolyn, a certified public accountant and 1981 Baylor graduate, have two children, Ryan, 12, and Reece, 10.