Our leadership

Mahfuz Ahmed is the principal founder of DISYS and currently serves as the non-executive chairman for Dexian. As the current Chairman of the Board of Directors, he focuses on continuous strategic planning, financial management, and overseeing the growing portfolio of all Dexian’s services.  

Dexian has grown 38% annually over the last 10 years – a testament to Mr. Ahmed’s knowledge, persistence and strategic focus of industry demands and technology solutions.  

Mr. Ahmed has been recognized for his leadership both regionally and nationally from various prestigious publications such as The Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40, E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year of the Greater Washington D.C. Region and much more. He is also member of the YPO, a Governor’s appointment to the George Mason University Board of Visitors, a Distinguished alumni award from GMU’s School of Engineering

Mr. Ahmed has been featured in multiple publications including The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal and has received the Entrepreneur of the Year from the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council. He is also one of Staffing Industry Analysts ’100 Most Influential People in the Staffing Industry.’

Maruf Ahmed is the CEO of Dexian. He is driven by the philosophy of putting people first, then business, and then finance. Maruf believes it is possible to achieve great results when everyone is dedicated to working towards becoming the best version of themselves. He is committed towards creating an environment that allows individuals to thrive, thereby delivering better experiences for both clients and consultants. Maruf’s day-to-day priority is fostering a culture driven by Dexian’s values: Integrity, Transparency, Ingenuity, Authenticity, and Empathy.

He co-founded SIS Inc., which merged with DISYS in 1999. Later, he served as President of DISYS and Signature Consultants and was a board member and treasurer. Maruf has been with Dexian since 1998, starting as an IT consultant at IBM and later moving to Mobil Oil Corporation, where the foundation for Dexian was laid. He holds a BS in Engineering and an MS in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from George Mason University. Notably, he has been honored in the Smart CXO Awards’ CIO/CTO category, listed among Staffing 100’s Most Influential People, and received the GMU College of Computing and Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award.

Maruf challenges his leadership team and his employees to answer, “What are you in the business for?” He is in the business for unleashing human potential and fulfilling dreams through meaningful work. For him, Dexian represents a community living by its values, nurturing each other, realizing employees’ potential, and encouraging personal and professional development. Maruf believes that success comes from happiness and gratitude, and he cherishes spending time with his wife, Sonal, their children, Seema, Simran, and Mahir, and his dog, Bali. He is currently working on his golf game and enjoys reading.

Firas Al-Hindi is the Chief Administrative Officer at Dexian, underlining his role with a process-oriented and data-driven approach. Firas enables operational excellence across the organization while building capabilities for future growth. He facilitates Dexian’s vision and strategy by managing prioritization, effective resource alignment, process improvement, measurement, and accountability.

Firas joined Dexian in 2012 and has been instrumental in managing all IT and operations. He brings more than 25 years of technology industry leadership, system delivery, operational management, and executive management experience. His journey began with government contracting for the army corps of engineers, followed by 16 years in satellite communication. Before Dexian, he held various IT and operational roles at Intelsat, DDC Advocacy, ANHAM, and Verdi Consulting. He holds an MS in Electrical Engineering.

Dexian is a source of pride for Firas. He witnessed its growth from a $185 million revenue company to its current state, humbly contributing to the journey. He is in the business to impact lives and enable growth and development for everyone at Dexian.

Firas spends his leisure time reading, exercising, and spending time with his wife and kids, engaging in their sports activities. He believes in balancing commitments to family and work, sometimes requiring extra effort to maintain this balance but always prioritizing dinner with his family at the end of the day.

Alex Baldwin serves as Dexian’s General Counsel and Secretary, overseeing all legal and regulatory matters.

Before joining Dexian, Alex was General Counsel of Hillcrest Laboratories, a venture-backed software company, where he was responsible for all legal and regulatory matters. Prior to Hillcrest, he spent five years as the EVP, General Counsel and Secretary of The HealthCentral Network, Inc., a venture-backed Internet company with a network of consumer health websites. Here, he took on a multifaceted role where he was responsible for all legal, regulatory, and HR matters. Alex was instrumental in negotiating and finalizing four acquisitions and played a key role in the successful sale of the company.

Alex’s career path also includes a tenure as a Junior Partner at WilmerHale, a leading international law firm, where he specialized in corporate transactional law for emerging technology companies. His expertise spanned various areas, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, and initial public offerings.

Alex brings a unique perspective and skill set to his role, ensuring the organization is well-positioned in the ever-evolving legal landscape.

Jeff Buss is the Chief Information Officer at Dexian. He is passionate about process improvement and orchestrating a secure, scalable, and user-friendly enterprise platform to give Dexian a competitive advantage in the marketplace

His career trajectory includes 30 years of progressive leadership across various sectors. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Marquette University, an M.B.A. from the University of Iowa, and two M.S. degrees, one in Information Technology and another in National Security Strategy. He also holds CISSP, C|EH, ITIL V3, and Security+ certifications. Notably, in 2023, he was awarded the “Top CIO of the Year” award by Cyber Defense Magazine.

Before Dexian, Jeff was the Global CIO at Nordic Consulting, where he helped double revenue in 30 months while acquiring five companies. Prior to that,he served as a cybersecurity advisor

to four of the five largest banks in America and ran two national practices at Ernst & Young, where he grew a team from 4 to 42 in 18 months and drove over $38M in sales in less than 24 months. Early in his career, he flew Electronic Attack Jets off of aircraft carriers as a Naval Flight Officer and transitioned to a career in IT Operations and Cybersecurity for the later part of his Naval career. He retired as a Captain from the Navy and had the privilege of operating and defending the $ 30+B Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN) with over 3M users, including the White House.

For Jeff, Dexian is a ‘force for good’ helping connect talent with opportunities. He is passionate about helping the next generation of IT professionals develop and grow in the profession. He enjoys spending time with his family, coaching youth sports, traveling, and fishing.

Geoff Gray is the Chief Customer Relationship Officer at Dexian. He drives growth by introducing customer-centric services and ensuring exceptional customer experiences. He shares Dexian’s core values (integrity, transparency, ingenuity, authenticity, and empathy) and these guide Geoff’s professional approach. He is dedicated to maintaining a top-notch customer experience.

Geoff’s motto, “learn from your mistakes, always do the right thing and enjoy the ride,” reflects his positive attitude towards business and life. Geoff believes that relationships are built over time through mutual respect, open and honest communication, trust, and the ability to relate to and accept diverse points of view.

He joined Dexian in 2021 with over 31 years of experience in staffing and enterprise sales. Geoff was a founding member of Signature Consultants and played a pivotal role in establishing the company’s enterprise accounts and sales teams. Geoff’s career is built on the values of prioritizing people and our clients and consultants. He is an active volunteer, serving on several boards and committees, including UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees. Good Fellows, Executive Committee of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and is Vice-Chair for the 2025 PGA Championship representing Quail Hollow.

Geoff enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, and hitting the links as an avid golfer. With 29 years of marriage and three kids, he values family and finds balance by prioritizing what matters most. As a believer in giving back, he finds fulfillment volunteering in areas where his contributions can positively impact others, creating a holistic work-life balance that benefits both himself and his community.

Kip Havel is the Chief Marketing Officer of Dexian. His mantra emphasizes focus, curiosity, and the relentless pursuit of results. Since joining Dexian in January 2020, Kip has dedicated himself to forging strategies that bridge the gap between the brand and its diverse audiences. His vision is to enhance Dexian’s market footprint and promote the company’s Black Sky Thinking – “…elevating our solutions, service, and industry beyond the blue and into the black sky to help our stakeholders reach new heights and achieve more than they ever thought possible.”

Kip places high importance on synergistic collaboration. He forges deep partnerships between marketing, business unit leaders, and external partners. This collaborative ethos ensures that Dexian continually offers the best brand and marketing strategies, all tailored to support business growth.

A University of Miami alumnus, Kip’s career trajectory includes senior marketing roles at Aflac, Randstad US, Cross Country Healthcare, and SFN Group. Notably, Kip was instrumental in spearheading the conception and rollout of the Dexian brand. His marketing acumen has garnered significant accolades such as the American Marketing Association’s “40 Under 40” Emerging Leaders, PR Week’s “Rising Star,” and Ragan and PR Daily’s “Ace Communicator.”

Kip views Dexian as an opportunity to help people find fulfilling careers, aid businesses in achieving their objectives, and empower individuals to surpass their perceived limits. In essence, Kip is driven to make a lasting, positive impact on individual careers and the broader societal landscape.

Away from marketing, Kip is an avid water sports enthusiast and traveler. His diverse interests also include photography, camping, and hiking. He believes a harmonious blend of work and personal passions is instrumental for holistic well-being. This balanced philosophy rejuvenates him and injects fresh perspectives into his work life.

Kumar Rajagopalan is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Country Head of India at Dexian, bringing over 30 years of experience in IT and Finance to his role. With a focus on aligning means with ends, Kumar maximizes financial outcomes through the strategic use of IT tools. He leads shared services, centralized recruiting, and managed services teams, fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment.

Beginning his career in finance, Kumar later transitioned to leading India operations at Dexian. He has implemented large-scale enterprise solutions for multinational corporations, specializing in system consolidation. As a Chartered Accountant from India with various technology certifications, his expertise in finance and technology is invaluable. His contribution towards architecting Dexian Financial Modelling helped the company to implement Enterprise Resource Planning and various M&As.

Kumar established and developed Dexian DISYS in India, creating employment opportunities for thousands of families. His philosophy of human-centric business drives his approach to work, believing in the power of connections and fostering an empathetic work culture.

The power of spirituality to alleviate stress and achieve a well-balanced Work-Life Symphony is Kumar’s guiding belief. He encourages creating distinct boundaries between work and personal life, prioritizing time for work and family to establish a harmonious existence. “By nurturing a rewarding personal life alongside work, individuals can achieve a harmonious and balanced existence.”

Lydia Wilson is the Chief People Officer at Dexian. She believes in the power of teamwork and input from others to drive success. Lydia leads the HR function and leadership development initiatives, aiming to deliver an exceptional employee experience while building and developing strong leadership aligned with the company’s values.

She brings over 30 years of industry experience to Dexian, joining in 2019 as the first female executive from Signature Consultants. With a background in staffing and recruitment, Lydia has driven contingent workforce strategies for Fortune 1000 companies globally.

Lydia holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Psychology from Whitman College. She has completed executive management studies at INSEAD in Switzerland. She was recognized as one of SIA’s “Top 100 Women in Staffing.” Dedicated to enhancing the overall employee experience at Dexian, she values a people-centric culture and strives to help others reach their full potential.

A resident of Southern California, Lydia embraces leisure time that includes traveling, photography, and quality moments spent with her two children and extended family. She is committed to maintaining a balanced lifestyle and stays active through regular walking and exercise. Lydia seamlessly integrates her personal interests into her work, considering it a unified journey of enjoyment and fulfillment.

Tara Winn, Chief Operating Officer for Dexian, is a multi-talented executive known for her strong business acumen and organizational skills. With a resourceful and results-driven approach, she leads teams and unites people across organizations. As a strategic advisor to the CEO, Tara is responsible for developing and implementing policy, performance, and change management initiatives. She has been with Dexian since 2009 and has played an integral role in guiding the development and growth of the Dexian platform. Tara values friendships with authenticity and enjoys a good laugh, making lifelong friends at the company.

Throughout her career, Tara has achieved success in field leadership, business management, and operations. She has a niche in executive consultation and interdepartmental collaboration. Tara was recognized on the SIA Global 150 List twice. From her perspective, Dexian represents opportunity and family, and she is in the business to provide generational opportunities.

Tara enjoys spending time with her loving husband and son and their fur baby. She enjoys being active and hibernating, and she finds relaxation in books and the beach. Tara prioritizes travel and exploring new places and manages multiple fantasy football teams during the NFL season. Tara understands the importance of work-life balance. She finds the balance that comes with the responsibility of her role and makes time for rest, reflection, personal health, and cherished moments with family and friends.

Al Barsoumian is VP of Sales Leadership at Dexian. His expertise in the field has earned him recognition as a Staffing Industry Analysts 40 Under 40 honoree, and he successfully led Dexian through the pandemic, achieving historic growth while keeping teams intact and clients satisfied.

As a problem solver with nearly a decade of experience in his role, Al brings a contagious energy and growth mindset to the position. As a member of the Sales Board, he sets the sales direction and oversees global enterprise accounts and local offices.

Al is driven by his genuine desire to help people unlock their full potential. That’s why his favorite memory is successfully placing a contractor and receiving a handwritten note from her 6-year-old expressing gratitude. These meaningful moments remind him of the positive impact he can make on people’s lives.

Beyond his professional life, Al finds joy in family adventures. Whether embarking on exciting trips, playing spirited basketball games, or immersing in camping escapades, his family time is cherished.

He encourages employees to be curious – “Don’t just do what is asked of you; aim to understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything you do so that you can innovate and find new and better ways.”

Scott Evans, VP of Professional Services at Dexian, has successfully led the $200 million business unit since 2008. Known for his sense of urgency, accountability, and dedication to customer service, Scott aims to bring together Dexian’s acquisitions and brands to provide exceptional service levels. He fosters a harmonious work environment where different units complement each other, driving the company’s success.

Scott’s career in staffing spans 25 years, including his 15-year tenure at Dexian. Previously, he gained valuable technical experience before transitioning to a leading role in a large bank, where he specialized in the mortgage industry. This experience laid the foundation for Scott to eventually establish his own firm, serving major Fortune 500 banks.

When advising employees, he stresses the importance of clear goals, effective time management, and exceptional customer service. Scott believes that aligning personal and professional aspirations, along with dedication, leads to success and a positive impact in the industry.

Scott values his leisure time, which he spends with his family and friends. He enjoys traveling, watching sports, and playing golf.

Tim Laughlin is the VP of District 12 at Dexian, focused on Southeast United States. He has a people-centric philosophy and firmly believes in the importance of trust and self-advocacy. Tim’s focus is on driving growth through leadership enablement.

With a preference for direct communication, he actively engages with his team members and values transparency. Tim’s Dexian journey began in 2004 when he opened the Atlanta office as a selling Managing Director. He was subsequently promoted to non-selling Managing Director in 2007. In 2010, he became a member of the National Accounts team. Before joining Dexian, he held multiple roles of increasing responsibility at Tek Systems. Tim has established himself as an expert in building high-performing teams and successfully developing new territories.

At Dexian, creating meaningful connections and developing teams that strive towards shared goals is a top priority, and Tim is a key player in driving the culture. His passion for building winning teams and fostering a culture of success and growth has made him a valuable asset to the organization.

To achieve a healthy work-life balance, Tim nurtures his team’s leadership by hiring and training exceptional individuals, ensuring that the organization functions smoothly. This allows him to maintain balance and enjoy his favorite outdoor activities, including fishing, surfing, and riding his motorcycle. Tim advises colleagues to trust themselves, avoid comparisons, and embrace their individuality. With this approach, he believes individuals can tackle personal and professional challenges with confidence and resilience.

Arthur Levitt, the VP of Strategic Accounts and MSP Alliances at Dexian, has provided Professional and IT consulting and staffing services for almost 25 years. He is a seasoned expert in building long-term partnerships with large enterprises and Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Arthur has spent over 14 years at Dexian and three years at Cognizant, where he led their West Coast SAP Practice and North America SAP operations, and has previously held roles at Honeywell, The Walt Disney Company, and Motorola Semiconductor.

At Dexian, Arthur is responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with the company’s strategic clients, managing global MSP alliances, and overseeing Centralized MSP and VMO client Operations and Delivery. His team has helped foster and maintain over 400 new client relationships. Arthur played a key role in creating Dexian’s Client Acquisition and Lead Generation teams as well as Centralized MSP and VMO client Operations and Delivery teams. He champions Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives within and outside Dexian and regularly participates in industry-related events.

Outside of work, Arthur is a passionate traveler who enjoys cruising, visiting countries, and immersing himself in their cultures. He treasures spending time with his wife and his 2 children.

Arthur and his family enjoy playing frisbee, badminton, and soccer. Arthur is fluent in Russian and conversational in Spanish. He was raised in Odessa, Ukraine, during the Soviet Union era and migrated to the US when he was 11.

Pat Quagrello is the Vice President of Delivery at Dexian, with over 20 years of experience at the company. He is responsible for delivering exceptional talent to clients. He prioritizes building solid relationships and providing the best service for remarkable consultant experience.

Pat’s professional approach focuses on interpersonal relationships and effective communication. He believes in creating authentic connections with consultants to drive a positive experience at Dexian. By listening to candidates and consultants, Pat ensures every interaction is exceptional.

Pat helped start the Signature Boston Office and served as Head of Delivery at Signature Consultants for over 10 years. In his current role, he sets the strategic Dexian Delivery approach. He aligns key initiatives with top priorities to strengthen the brand. Pat aims to create a remarkable experience for consultants and leverages data management for accountability and efficiency. His ultimate goal is to maximize delivery efficiency to support Dexian clients.

Pat values spending time with his wife and three daughters. He enjoys golf, basketball, and family trips, contributing to his healthy work-life balance. Pat believes personal interests enhance job satisfaction and shape one’s perspective.

Ashish Srivastava is the Vice President of Energy Services International Operation at Dexian. He has led the global organization for over 10 years in more than 10 countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Ashish specializes in delivering multimillion-dollar consulting engagements, leading international teams, and prioritizing personal growth and learning. He focuses on developing leaders and empowering individuals to succeed, expanding the company’s global presence, creating career opportunities for colleagues, and strengthening the company’s market position.

With over 25 years of experience in the IT services industry, Ashish’s expertise ranges from delivering turnarounds for business growth and profitability to opening new offices in various countries and expanding market presence. He is passionate about challenging boundaries, continuous learning, and empowering others to succeed. Making a positive impact on people’s lives is part of what makes his role fulfilling.

Ashish balances his career with personal interests like long-distance running and playing music for a rock band. He has made Colorado home for over 20 years with his wife and two children. Ashish considers maintaining a healthy work-life balance essential for a well-rounded individual. He advises employees to focus on long-term career choices, continuous learning, and helping others, recognizing that these aspects contribute to future success.