Governor Abbott Appoints Thomas And Names Vasquez Chair Of Texas Department Of Housing And Community Affairs
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Ajay Thomas to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) for a term set to expire on January 31, 2025. He also named Leo Vasquez to serve as presiding officer of the board. TDHCA is responsible for promoting and preserving homeownership, financing the development of affordable rental housing, supporting community and energy assistance programs, and other functions.
Ajay Thomas of Austin is Executive Vice President and National Head of Public Finance for FHN Financial, a division of First Horizon Bank. He is a member of the Board of Visitors for Southwestern University, and an advisory board member of the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Additionally, he previously served as a board member of the Texas Business Leadership Council. Thomas received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Southwestern University, a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law.
Leo Vasquez of Houston is a corporate finance and C-level business management consultant. He is a former gubernatorial appointee to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and a former chairman of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation. He is a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Texas Advisory Board (USGLC), an advisory board member of the Texas Policy Lab at Rice University, and is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Governance Fellow. Additionally, he is a former board member of Houston’s Greater East End Management District, Harris County Appraisal District, and the Harris County Health Facilities Development Corporation. He also served as the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar. Vasquez received a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University Graduate School of Business.