About Us

Hector V. Lemus - CEO

Tel. 936.320.3248 h.v.lemus@russellandvanrook.com

Hi, I am Hector V. Lemus. I am the Chief Executive Officer. I have the pleasure of leading the wonderful and talented people of Russell & Van Rook.

I am responsible for this ship, its crew, and the cargo. I am blessed in having an extremely capable first mate. We achieved continuity in a very short time. We don't only have a great team. We have the right one. I also have the right Board and its full knowledge and wisdom to access at any time. I affectionally call them the Crows. They seem to have taken ownership of the title. I answer to them, but I answer to my customers first. We all take this very seriously here at Russell & Van Rook. This is a place where we defy gravity among other things. Responsibility rolls up here. I own it.

I am a published author. I am currently working on my third book in the series of business books "The Discipline of Better".

I was told to let you know that I do have a life outside of this wonderful company. I am a dad to two kids. I was not going to say it, but yes, they are amazing! Should we cross paths at any airport, feel free to say hello and come have a pint or two with me. Even better, give us a call, text, or email. Let's talk about where we can help you get your time back.

It is my personal belief and mantra, that through discipline anything is possible. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have been or find ourselves in positions of leadership, have an obligation to build on better foundations. We have an obligation to leave every place we go, better than when we found it. Even founders and executives retire eventually. Let your legacy speak for itself out in sunlight.

Emilio F. Puig - Managing Director of Marketing

Izaskun Zubizarreta-O'Shea - President Corporate Council

Audrey Lindsey - Director of Human Resources

Whether your goal is to become a more effective manager, advance within an organization, or build something of your own, Russell & Van Rook is here to serve you along that path.

Emilio Felipe Puig is a graduate of UNAM and the Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO) in Mexico. He is a brilliant brand creator and conservator. He came to us on loan from Russell & Van Rook, BV. He shares our values and passion for business done the right way. He is the proud dad of two lovely and precocious little ladies. Emilio and his wonderful wife Greta are deeply involved in our Amaranth Foundation, where they focus on our efforts to help orphaned children of conflict find permanent safety, support, and love. We are fortunate to have Emilio and his family as a very important part of us.

Izaskun O'Shea is graduate of Universiteit van Amsterdam, School of law. She began her career as an international law practitioner at several NGOs, and eventually at the United Nations at UNICEF. Izaskun returned from her mission to obtain a PhD. in Law and economics from Utretch University. Iza leads our legal departments in 3 continents. In her spare time, she tends to her gardens and her family in the Canary Islands. Izaskun is also an avid amateur archeologist. So, when she is not knee-deep in mud, she is knee-deep in mud leading Amaranth's Foundation's activities showing the younger generations of the joys of being knee-deep in mud.

Audrey Lindsey comes to us from Penn State. Audrey has led HR departments in different regions and industries across the United States. Audrey is also a board-certified psychologist and human behaviorist. Audrey is an artist at heart, and an accomplished composer. She fell in love with the Southwest where she still resides. She teaches music and art in different school districts in New Mexico. Audrey and her family run a Burro rescue, where they take care in rehabilitating, donkeys, burros, and mules. We tease her about how this last fact, shows that she will never leave work at work.

Farkas, Ilona - Executive Head Chef & Patissiere

Xiomara Martin Martinez Marti - Executive Chef & Event Catering

Çağla Işıl Yavuz - Executive Chef & Procurement

Jack J. Booker serves as Chief Financial Officer of Russell & Van Rook. Jack is a man who really needs no introduction. His numbers introduce him.

With over two decades in financial leadership, he has built a reputation for seeing what others miss. Not just in Balance sheets, but in the quiet gaps where risk, opportunity, and discipline tend to hide. His work has spanned high-growth environments, complex restructures, and the kind of operational cleanups most people like to avoid. He is known for bringing order without theatrics. Systems without excess. Clarity where there was once noise.

Before stepping into his current role, he led financial strategy at publicly traded firms, where he focused on strengthening internal controls, aligning operational performance with long-term value, and ensuring growth was something the company could carry, not just announce.

His approach is simple, though not easy:

Know what matters

Measure it correctly,

Fix what's failing

Repeat until the business can stand on its own.

Jack Booker -CFO

Tel. 936.320.3248

Info@russellandvanrook.com