Cindy Morris Named President and CEO of Dallas Market Center

Dallas Market Center and owners Crow Holdings have announced that Cindy Morris has been named president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. Current president and CEO Bill Winsor will shift into a new, active role as chairman emeritus. The changes will take effect July 1, following the summer markets in Dallas. Morris’ first priority will be to continue to strengthen partnerships and expand new business opportunities for Dallas Market Center while maintaining its profitable core business as a leading open-daily wholesale marketplace and tradeshow management company.

Morris, a 26-year Dallas Market Center veteran, has served as chief operating officer since 2002. She has overseen strategic growth across key categories, significant new business initiatives, and effective international partnerships in Europe and Asia. She has been instrumental in establishing and strengthening collaborative relationships with leading organizations, manufacturers, and sales representative organizations. Under her guidance the retail development and major stores programs have attracted thousands of new customers and maintained industry-leading customer loyalty. Finally, award-winning marketing programs and customer-focused communications have resulted in trade events and markets attended by more retail buyers from across the U.S. and internationally.

Winsor, who began working for the Crow family in 1980, assumes the newly created position of chairman emeritus and will remain actively connected to the business. He will be further developing and managing Dallas Market Center’s expanding retail alliance programs as well as assisting the executive committee and owners with long range planning and new business development projects.

“I am honored to have been offered this opportunity to lead a strong company with a remarkable past as well as a bright future,” said Cindy Morris. “I have been fortunate to work with a mentor as respected and visionary as Bill Winsor, and I am supported by a team of associates unmatched in expertise and understanding, driven by new ideas and strong values. Dallas Market Center is the only marketplace in the U.S. that provides significant buying and selling opportunities on a daily basis in addition to regularly scheduled markets. Furthermore, Dallas is located in the heart of the strongest economic region and in a state with five of the top 10 fastest growing cities in the U.S. This dynamic economic momentum is matched by a market center aggressively seeking new opportunities, capitalizing on its strengths, and promoting what makes Dallas Market Center unique. I welcome the opportunity to work to ensure that Dallas remains an important center of business and a destination for buyers from around the world.”

“Dallas Market Center’s financial and operational stability was a key factor in my decision to shift roles,” said President and CEO Bill Winsor. “Cindy has continued to earn the respect of our owners, our associates, leaseholders and retailers throughout her many years of service. I have worked with her for 23 years, and we are fortunate to have such a strong and capable leader in place prepared to take the company to new levels of success across all of our industries. She has a clear vision for the future and will continue to focus on long-term customer needs over short-term market demands. She’s the right leader at the right time for Dallas Market Center,” said Winsor.

“I am confident that Cindy will guide the market center successfully and with careful attention to opportunities ahead. She has an unequaled understanding of the business as well as key relationships with manufacturers, sales representatives and retailers,” said Crow Holdings’ Chairman and CEO Harlan Crow. “This experience comes from decades of hard work and a passion for the mission of Dallas Market Center.

Bill’s decision is one that comes after an impressive 35 years of service to the Crow family business. I can’t speak highly enough of his leadership, his business acumen and his personal character. I look forward to continuing to work with him on a range of important projects that will strengthen Dallas Market Center’s position as a global leader for trade,” said Crow.