Resource Management Group Assists Belk with CFO Search
July 7, 2025 – Resource Management Group (RMG), an executive search firm specializing in CFO placements, has assisted in the recruitment of Vince Phelan as executive vice president and CFO of Belk. Kevin Cooke, Jonathan Gould, and Lauren LaPolice led the assignment. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Belk leadership team Shaina Hall CHRO and Don Hendricks CEO for the opportunity to collaborate on this important executive hire and we extend our warmest congratulations to Vince and the entire organization,” RMG said in a LinkedIn post. “Based in both Charlotte and New York City, Vince is well positioned to help drive Belk’s continued evolution and growth.”
Mr. Phelan brings more than 30 years of experience in retail finance. He is an accomplished financial executive with extensive experience leading finance functions across several high-profile retail and lifestyle brands. He previously was CFO at IGNITE Fitness Holdings from 2024 to mid-2025, where he helped guide financial strategy and investor relations. Before joining IGNITE, Mr. Phelan was the CFO at J.Crew from December 2023 to December 2024, following nearly three years as CFO at Saks and Saks Fifth Avenue, respectively, where he played a key role in financial restructuring and growth initiatives. Earlier in his career, he served as CFO of EILEEN FISHER, INC. from 2017 to 2020, and held the top financial role at Barneys New York.
Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, North Carolina, the company has grown to operate nearly 300 stores across 16 Southern states, making it one of the largest family-run department store chains in the United States . Belk offers a wide range of products, including apparel, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, home furnishings, and housewares, catering to a diverse customer base. The company markets products under exclusive brand names such as Crown & Ivy, Kim Rogers, and New Directions, among others.
With offices in Stamford, CT, and New York City, RMG is a boutique financial recruitment firm specializing in executive-level finance positions. The firm provides its clients with an exclusive slate of competitive candidates for finance and accounting roles, ranging from director-level to executive positions. RMG has built strong partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, high-growth businesses, and both public and private companies.
Related: A Look at How the CFO Role in Private Equity is Evolving
Denis LaPolice founded RMG in 1993 and brings over 25 years of experience in executive search and talent advisory. He leads the firm’s CFO and private equity practices, working with major corporations like Honeywell, General Electric, PepsiCo, and Boeing, as well as private equity firms seeking top-tier CFOs and finance teams for high-growth companies. His expertise spans industries such as consumer products, industrial manufacturing, technology, distribution, business services, media, and healthcare services.
Proven Search Consultants
Mr. Cooke, partner, has been with Resource Management Group since 1994. He brings the firm over three decades of accounting and finance search experience in diverse industries, including financial services, consumer products, manufacturing, technology, and service-driven businesses. Mr. Cooke has spent his career serving Fortune 500 companies, as well as pre-IPO clients in all areas of accounting and financial search assignments. In addition to his management responsibilities, he remains an active search consultant, primarily focusing on senior executive assignments.
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Mr. Gould, partner, joined Resource Management Group in January of 2002. He is nationally recognized as a leading executive finance search professional and has spent his career recruiting the most talented Financial Officers. Mr. Gould works with some of the world’s leading companies such as General Electric, Aptiv, Honeywell, Boeing, Thermo Fisher Scientific, PepsiCo, American Express, JP Morgan, Citigroup and more. He also works with private equity firms such as Blackstone, Advent, HIG Capital, TPG, Cerberus, T.H. Lee, Bain Capital, Warburg Pincus, American Securities, Kelso, Carlyle, New Mountain, L Catterton, KKR and more.
Ms. LaPolice, director, joined the RMG team in late 2023. She is in charge of all marketing and social media as well as process improvement, business strategy and new segment development. Prior to joining RMG, Ms. LaPolice spent her career in retail and apparel in both marketing and merchandising.
Related: Forward from Finance: From CFO to CEO
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
