ADDISON, Texas, Nov. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daseke, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSKE), the largest flatbed, specialized transportation and logistics solutions company in North America, announced today that it has named Julie Hoagland as the Company’s Chief People Officer. In this new executive role, Ms. Hoagland will report to Chris Easter, Chief Executive Officer of Daseke, and lead all aspects of the Company’s human resources function, with a focus on fostering the strategic development of the Company’s culture, leadership, and talent.
Chris Easter commented, “We are excited to announce Julie’s appointment as Daseke’s first ever Chief People Officer, which compliments and completes the strong leadership team we have built over the last year. Julie brings over two and a half decades of experience as an established and highly respected human resources professional. To enable our strategy and build an even stronger Daseke, we must continue to invest in our people and culture. Our strategy remains focused on our goal to deliver a ninety percent operating ratio over the long-term, and we will need to further invest in building a highly functional culture and strong bench of talent to be successful. We are happy to welcome Julie to the team and look forward to her contribution.”
Ms. Hoagland brings over 25 years of human resources experience to Daseke’s leadership team. Ms. Hoagland joins Daseke from A. H. Belo Corporation, a Dallas-based news and emerging media and digital marketing company, where she served as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer since 2016. Prior to joining A. H. Belo Corporation, Ms. Hoagland served as Head of People Services at DaVita Rx, where she helped support significant growth, including employee headcount expansion from 500 to over 1,700 employees, while maintaining a great place to work. Her work at DaVita Rx garnered her recognition as the 2012 HR Executive of the Year by Dallas HR (the local SHRM affiliate). She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from the University of North Texas and completed her Business of Human Resources Executive Program at the University of North Carolina.
In connection with Ms. Hoagland’s hiring, the Board of Directors has approved equity awards as an inducement material to her acceptance of employment with the Company in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). Ms. Hoagland was granted the following awards: (A) options to purchase 66,600 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an exercise price of $6.89 per share (the closing price of the Company’s common stock on November 6, 2020), which are scheduled to vest in three equal annual installments, subject to the her continued employment; and (B) 45,700 performance stock units that are eligible to vest at the end of a three-year performance period subject to the achievement of specified stock price hurdles and the her continued employment. Ms. Hoagland’s inducement grants provide for varying levels of accelerated vesting upon the occurrence of specified employment termination and change in control events.
About Daseke, Inc.
Daseke, Inc. is the largest flatbed and specialized transportation and logistics company in North America. Daseke offers comprehensive, best-in-class services to many of the world’s most respected industrial shippers through experienced people, a fleet of more than 5,000 tractors and 11,500 flatbed and specialized trailers. For more information, please visit www.daseke.com.
