Runway Group taps Brenda Anderson for new role

by Paul Gatling ([email protected]) 2,419 views 

Bentonville holding company Runway Group has appointed Brenda Anderson to the newly created position of chief strategy officer.

For the past three years, Anderson had been director of real estate development for Blue Crane, Runway Group’s real estate acquisition and development arm. Some of its notable Northwest Arkansas projects include 8th Street Market, Skylight Cinema, Crystal Flats, The Record and Blake St. House.

“Brenda’s incredible experience in real estate, community development and planning is vital to our long-term thinking about when, where and how we make investments in our community,” said Runway CEO Chris Seay.

Runway is a business team led by Steuart Walton and his younger brother, Tom Walton. They are grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton and the sons of Jim Walton, chairman and CEO of Arvest Bank Group Inc.

The diversified holding company, which has approximately 25 employees, makes strategic investments in Northwest Arkansas in real estate, hospitality, outdoor initiatives and aviation.

Anderson’s appointment is one of several recent staffing updates at Runway. Mary Robin Casteel, previously chief legal counsel for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, is director of state and federal affairs. Scott King of Austin, Texas, is the firm’s chief experience officer.

Jared Faciszewski was promoted to CEO of Blue Crane, where he’s worked since 2019. Farris DeBoard is Blue Crane’s new director of investments and acquisitions. He previously worked as general counsel of Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners in Rogers.

Late last year, Runway Group promoted Seay to CEO. Seay is a Bentonville native and worked as COO for two years. Chad Yoes, the CEO since early 2019, resigned in mid-October.