Northmarq announces corporate leadership promotions of Shawn Power and Jay Johnson; names Chris Pohlad Chief of Staff

MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 26, 2024) — Northmarq is pleased to announce the promotion of Shawn Power to Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Jay Johnson to Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Additionally, Chris Pohlad has been named Chief of Staff to Northmarq CEO Jeffrey Weidell. These pivotal leadership announcements highlight Northmarq's commitment to continued growth and operational excellence, while reinforcing its strategic vision.

"Welcoming Shawn, Jay and Chris into these key leadership roles is a direct reflection of the confidence we have in their abilities,” said Weidell. “These changes are essential for scaling our business as we continue to grow and adapt to meet client needs.”

As Chief Operating Officer, Shawn Power will oversee mergers and acquisitions, finance, operations, technology and fund management. His promotion comes after serving as Northmarq's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since the start of 2023, a role in which he led the finance, accounting, treasury, insurance and licensing functions.

Power joined Northmarq in 2014 and quickly became an instrumental figure in driving the company's financial performance and strategic growth. His deep understanding of financial strategy, coupled with his operational acumen, will ensure Northmarq's continued ability to lead the industry in capital markets solutions and service excellence. He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from North Dakota State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Jay Johnson steps into the Chief Administrative Officer role after previously serving as Northmarq's Chief Human Resources Officer. His new responsibilities include overseeing human resources (HR), loan servicing, marketing, communications and legal.

Johnson joined Northmarq earlier this year, bringing more than 20 years of experience building and leading commercially focused HR teams. Prior to Northmarq, he held leadership positions at major financial services firms, including Russell Investments, Ameriprise Financial, and Allianz Life Insurance Company. He also served as senior vice president of Talent, Development & Culture at SmileDirectClub, where he aligned HR strategies to support the company's rapid growth. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Saint John’s University in Minnesota.

Chris Pohlad will serve as Chief of Staff at Northmarq while continuing in the same role at United Properties which along with Northmarq is part of the Pohlad Companies family of businesses. He will sit on Northmarq’s executive committees and help steer the company toward its growth and long-term goals with flexible and targeted involvement. Earlier in his career, he worked at Northmarq for six years as a producer, analyst and loan originator in Boston and Seattle.

Pohlad joined United Properties in 2017 and since has worked as an asset manager, led marketing and rebranding efforts for Amira, the company’s senior living brand, and played a role in the establishment of the Four Seasons Hotel in Minneapolis, the first five-star luxury hotel in the state. 

Pohlad currently serves as a trustee on the board of the University of Puget Sound, his alma mater. He earned a Bachelor of Science in politics and government with a concentration in international relations from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.