UMRF Ventures Names Pierre Landaiche CEO

Sept. 3, 2020 — The Board of Directors of UMRF Ventures has announced the hiring of Pierre Landaiche to become the company’s new CEO, and to lead the continuing growth of this University of Memphis student-centered company.

Pierre was the vice president and general manager of the Renasant Convention Center, the Cannon Center and most recently led the start-up of the new Memphis Sports Experience and Hall of Fame. He replaces Tom Kadien, UMRF Ventures chairman and CEO since the company’s inception in 2017. Kadien will remain with UMRF Ventures in his role as chairman of the Board of Directors.

“Ventures has grown significantly over the last three years, and now employs over two hundred University of Memphis students, serving multiple clients," said Kadien. "Having a talented and experienced executive like Pierre will help us take this company to another level, creating more jobs and career opportunities for our University of Memphis students."

Pierre Landaiche has a BA in Communications from Louisiana State University. He is a past president of the Rotary Club of Memphis, former chairman of the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South, and former board member for Memphis Tourism.

“I’m thrilled to be joining such a strong, young company owned by the University’s Research Foundation,” said Landaiche. “The service level that the Ventures team provides our corporate partners is the foundation we need to expand this company. I look forward to sharing our story with the Memphis business and non-profit community so we can offer more opportunities to our staff and UofM students.”

UMRF Ventures creates client focused service companies and employs University of Memphis students to provide services to its partner companies, including IT help line call centers, telephone sales support, donor solicitation services and customer chat and voice support services. In three years, Ventures has employed over 450 students and disbursed over $5,300,000 in student wages. More than 20 Ventures students have graduated and gone on to full-time positions with the client companies.

For More Information, contact Tomkdn56@umrfventures.com.