Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani is pleased to announce that Partner Hiawatha Northington II has been named Co-Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee, effective May 1, replacing Partner Franz Hardy who has led the group over the past 15 years. Northington will act as Co-Chair alongside Partner Laura De Santos, who served as Vice Chair of the committee before becoming Co-Chair in 2018.
The firm’s robust and long-standing Diversity Committee has existed for well over three decades. Firmwide Managing Partner Dion Cominos, noted that “a significant amount of the Committee’s success is attributable to the outstanding leadership efforts of Franz Hardy who has served with unwavering commitment and vision over a great many years.” As for Northington, Cominos added, “Hiawatha is a thoughtful leader who has been deeply engaged in the firm’s inclusion efforts and in strengthening the GRSM community across our 50-state platform. We are very pleased to welcome him into this role and confident he will make substantially valuable contributions alongside Laura.”
Northington has been an active member of the Diversity Committee since joining the firm in 2019 and currently serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s African American Affinity Group alongside Partner Jonathan Blakely, a role which he will continue to hold. In that capacity, he has helped expand the group’s engagement across the firm. He has also played an important role in the continued growth of the firm’s Jackson, Mississippi office, where he serves as Office Managing Partner.
De Santos will remain Co-Chair, providing continued leadership as the committee moves forward. In addition to her role on the Diversity Committee, she serves as Office Managing Partner of the firm’s Houston office and as Regional Oversight Partner for the Southern region, bringing a broad leadership perspective to the committee’s work.
Northington succeeds Franz Hardy, who has served as Chair since 2011. Over the course of 15 years, Hardy has led and expanded the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts, including establishing and growing the firm’s affinity groups and advancing key initiatives such as the firm’s LEAD Program. He will continue in his role as Co-Managing Partner of the firm’s Denver office.
“It has been an honor to serve in this role for the past 15 years,” said Hardy. “I am proud of what we have built and felt it was the right time to create space for the next generation of leaders to step forward, bring new ideas, and continue moving the firm’s inclusion efforts forward. I look forward to supporting that progress in new ways.”
Learn more about the firm’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion programs.
