Milt Capps
Published Monday, November 3, 2008 1:09 pm
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InfoWorks Inc. Founder Jim Clayton today announced that Tony Heard has been named president of the 11-year-old provider of business consulting and custom technology services.
Reached by VNC for comment on the appointment this afternoon, Clayton (at left) said he, himself, will remain chairman and a full-time employee of InfoWorks. Clayton stressed that with Heard's appointment, "we have a clearly stated succession plan for me."Clayton also expressed confidence in the firm's posture, despite the current economic climate. "While we realize the business climate is uncertain," he said, "customers are still making purchasing decisions, InfoWorks has a strong cash position, and 2008 revenues are substantially ahead of 2007’s."
He said Heard's priority upon joining the company Dec. 1 will be business development and other "community-facing activities."
Heard is currently a principal in NMG Advisers Inc. He joined NMG two years ago, after five years as U.S. Bank's regional chairman, based in Nashville. Within the management group at NMG, Heard served clients involved in mergers, acquisitions, turnarounds and other transitions.
When Heard joins InfoWorks, he'll merely move to the other side of White Bridge Road. NMG's at number 95, and InfoWorks is at 28.
Heard, a 48-year-old native Nashvillian, earlier spent 18 years with SunTrust/Third National Bank in Nashville, where he held a number of roles, including senior vice president for corporate banking and for private capital.
Clayton formed InfoWorks in 1997, after 32 years with IBM in Nashville, where his duties included managing several global-servies consulting practices in a three-state region. He also managed IBM's business-partner programs and healthcare practice.
Clayton had said at least three years ago that he'd be developing a succession plan to ensure continued leadership for the firm. InfoWorks became employee owned in 2005, after Clayton bought out Co-founder Beth Chase, who subsequently formed C3 Consulting. Three years ago, InfoWorks had about 34 employees. Clayton said the count is now 42.
Clayton and Heard are veterans of the boards of numerous Nashville nonprofit organizations. Heard currently serves on the boards of both United Way of Middle Tennessee and the St. Thomas Health Services Foundation. Heard earned his bachelor's at Duke University. Clayton earned his bachelor's at Vanderbilt University School of Engineering. ♦