Mar 01 H. J. Russell & Company Promotes Yasmine S. Murray, Esq. to Chief Operating Officer
H. J. Russell & Company announces the promotion of Yasmine S. Murray, Esq., a member of its senior leadership team, from Executive Vice President to Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Yasmine will continue working side-by-side with CEO Michael B. Russell, Sr., to set the company’s strategic direction, and develop and execute the company’s goals and policies. In her new position, she will have Risk Management, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing, Property Management, Administrative Services, and Real Estate Development reporting directly to her, phasing in the Construction and Program Management divisions over the next year.
During the 70-year history of the company, Yasmine becomes the first woman to hold the title and is positioned to be a part of the leadership succession plan. The company is laser-focused on expanding its footprint nationally, and she will be critical to executing that expansion.
Yasmine will continue to carry out the duties of the Corporate Secretary as well as the General Counsel, where she is responsible for managing the company’s legal affairs, including corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, litigation, dispute resolution, risk management and mitigation, employment, real estate development and acquisitions.
“Simply put, she is the right person for the job. Year over year, Yasmine proves to be a consistent, knowledgeable, and respected leader. She has been an invaluable asset to the organization and a key partner in developing Russell’s strategic direction and executing our organizational goals as well as living out our mission and vision,” said Michael B. Russell, Sr., CEO, Russell. “Her intellect, strategic outlook and drive for excellence, combined with her passion and integrity, continue to set her apart. I have no doubt she will be one of the driving forces behind our success as we move H. J. Russell & Company forward. I am proud to have her by my side and even more excited about seeing her build upon our legacy.”
Yasmine’s tenure at the company spans 11 years. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Association of Corporate Counsel, Atlanta Business League, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, Minority Corporate Counsel Association, National Association of Professional Women, State Bar of Georgia, and the Urban Land institute.
“Michael has encouraged and elevated me, not just in title, but in practice, to be at the table where the business decisions are being made. He has been very intentional about that ever since I started with the company,” said Yasmine. “I’ve put in the work that earned the seat, but he and the Russell family have proven over time that they truly value my role as a trusted advisor on decisions that impact the legacy of the company. It is that legacy of growing and supporting generational wealth, within a diverse family, that makes this role particularly important for me because I believe closing the wealth gap is critical for a successful society.”
Originally from St. Lucia, Yasmine graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in legal studies, with a concentration in Business Administration, from Bay Path University and then went on to achieve her Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Georgia, School of Law. You can listen to a recent interview with Yasmine prior to her promotion on Russell’s We Build: The Podcast here or on one of your favorite podcast apps.
