Matt François, M.S., EMT
Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Matt François sets the strategic direction and executive protection doctrine for François Executive Partners™, ensuring every engagement reflects The FEP Standard™ of precision, discretion, and elite client care. He oversees all principal relationships and maintains direct command over FEP’s highest-tier operations.

Lindsay Kaplan, M.S.
Intelligence & Risk Analyst

Office of the CEO, François Executive Partners™
Protective Intelligence & Risk Strategy

Lindsay leads FEP’s intelligence and risk-analysis function, blending high-level executive support with advanced protective-intelligence capability. She brings technical depth, disciplined research methodology, and a security-driven mindset that strengthen the firm’s ability to anticipate, identify, and mitigate risk across every mission.

She holds a Master’s degree in Global Security, Conflict, and Cybercrime from New York University, where her work focused on cyber threats, digital forensics, OSINT investigations, and adversarial behavior. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, providing her with a strong investigative and behavioral foundation that complements her advanced intelligence training.

Her technical background includes malware analysis, insider-threat detection, vulnerability assessment, and forensic investigation through the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge, using tools such as Kali Linux, ExifTool, Hashcat, Python-based analysis, and investigative OSINT platforms.

Before joining FEP, Lindsay worked with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Corporate Executive Management, screening senior executive candidates for Presidential Rank Award consideration. She produced personnel-risk reports, conducted suitability analyses, and supported governance and policy-compliance initiatives that reduced organizational risk at the federal level.

She later expanded her intelligence work through the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance and the Music Fights Fraud Alliance, where she conducted OSINT-driven investigations, produced fraud-risk intelligence, and delivered executive-level research reports for partner organizations across the entertainment and technology sectors. Her work translated complex digital-behavior patterns into actionable insights that strengthened threat detection and decision-support capabilities.

At FEP, Lindsay supports the CEO across strategic coordination, operational planning, research briefs, risk analysis, and internal systems development. Her proficiency in Python, R, SQL, Stata, SPSS, digital forensics tools, and Microsoft/Azure security platforms enables her to synthesize large volumes of data into structured intelligence that drives FEP’s protective posture and advance-planning workflows.

Lindsay embodies The FEP Standard through precision, discretion, analytical rigor, and steady operational control, making her an integral force within FEP’s leadership foundation.

Alizé Belardo
Brand & Media Strategist

Office of the CEO, François Executive Partners™
Brand Strategy & Public Presence

Alizé is the Brand & Media Strategist at François Executive Partners™, responsible for shaping and elevating the firm’s public presence while ensuring all communications reflect The FEP Standard™. She develops and executes brand strategy across digital platforms, translating executive leadership and operational excellence into authoritative, aspirational content that reinforces credibility and trust.

With extensive experience in luxury hospitality and digital marketing, Alizé has driven engagement, brand growth, and strategic communications for high-profile properties and organizations. Her expertise spans content strategy, visual storytelling, and performance analytics, ensuring every client-facing interaction strengthens FEP’s authority and brand positioning.

Alizé combines strategic insight, operational awareness, and creative leadership to ensure François Executive Partners presents a polished, consistent, and impactful image across all media.

Alizé is a graduate of Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating in Marketing.

Her work has been recognized by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards, a global honor for excellence in brand strategy and execution.

Dr. Robert L. Quigley, M.D., D.Phil.
Medical Director

Office of the CEO, François Executive Partners™
Executive Health & Risk

Dr. Robert L. Quigley is the Medical Director of François Executive Partners, providing medical governance, crisis medicine integration, and executive health risk strategy for the firm’s UHNW, family offices, and corporate clients.

With over 30 years as a Duke/Oxford trained physician, surgeon, scientist, and global healthcare executive, Dr. Quigley brings institutional-grade medical leadership to high-consequence protective operations. Prior to joining FEP, he served as Senior Vice President and Global Medical Director at International SOS, leading medical assistance, aeromedical evacuation, and crisis mitigation/response across the globe for thousands of multinational organizations.

Clinically, Dr. Quigley spent more than 25 years as a triple US board re-certified cardio-thoracic/trauma surgeon and Professor of Surgery, directing nationally recognized open-heart programs with outcomes exceeding STS benchmarks. With a doctorate in immunology his research and publications have advanced transplant medicine, oncology therapeutics, and infectious disease response.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Quigley served as a global authority on infectious disease risk, advising corporations, governments, and institutions on workforce resilience, return-to-work strategy, and duty-of-care obligations.

At François Executive Partners, Dr. Quigley provides:

• Medical governance and clinical oversight for protective operations
• Executive and family office health risk advisory
• Crisis medicine integration and medical contingency planning
• Global travel health, evacuation, and duty-of-care strategy
• Protective and concierge medicine within CONUS and OCONUS

Dr. Quigley holds an MD from the University of Toronto and a DPhil in Immunology from the University of Oxford (Balliol College). He maintains unrestricted medical licensure in New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania, serving as a trusted medical authority for clients operating at the highest levels of visibility and risk.

Mark Pagan
Director of Training

Training Division, François Executive Partners™
Personnel Development & Operational Excellence

Mark Pagan serves as Director of Training at François Executive Partners™, where he is responsible for ensuring that every individual representing the firm meets The FEP Standard™ without exception.

He oversees all training, onboarding, and certification processes, translating real-world operational demands into disciplined, repeatable systems that produce consistent, high-level performance. His authority is absolute in one regard: no personnel are cleared for client-facing operations without meeting the standard he enforces.

Mark brings over two decades of frontline experience in dignitary protection, law enforcement, and military combat operations. He has led protective teams in New York City, safeguarded public officials and dignitaries as a member of the NYPD Intelligence Division, and commanded Marines as a Platoon Sergeant during combat deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom and across multiple global theaters.

This experience directly shapes FEP’s training philosophy, which is grounded in reality, not theory. Under his leadership, training extends beyond technical skill to include judgment, discretion, presentation, and the ability to perform under pressure in environments where there is no margin for error.

Working in close coordination with protective operations leadership, Mark ensures that all training reflects current threats, client expectations, and the realities of executive protection at the highest level. At François Executive Partners™, his role is not instructional; it is decisive. He defines readiness, enforces accountability, and ensures that every FEP professional is prepared before ever stepping in front of a client.

James Powers
Director of Executive Operations

Executive Operations, François Executive Partners™
Operational Strategy & Executive Support

James Powers is the Director of Executive Operations at François Executive Partners™, responsible for the control and execution of all internal executive support operations. He oversees personnel, systems, and workflow discipline, ensuring operational precision, communication control, and uninterrupted support of the CEO’s priorities.

He leads all executive support personnel and maintains authority over internal tasking, access, and performance standards. James conducts final interviews, approves assignments, and enforces accountability across all support functions to ensure alignment with FEP’s operational standards.

James also represents François Executive Partners in select external engagements, attending industry conferences and supporting contract negotiations on behalf of the firm. He operates as a direct extension of the CEO when required, ensuring continuity in both internal operations and external representation.

With over 20 years of leadership experience, James has held senior roles including President and Vice President of Executive Consultants Inc., and Director of Operations for hospitality and executive environments across New York City and the Hamptons. His background reflects a consistent focus on structured operations, team leadership, and execution under pressure.

James ensures that François Executive Partners operates with discipline, precision, and zero operational drift.

Robert Houston
Director of Protective Operations

Protective Operations, François Executive Partners™
Field Command & Operational Readiness

Robert Houston is the Director of Protective Operations at François Executive Partners™, leading and commanding all field protection operations. He oversees all FEP agents, approves deployment assignments, and maintains operational readiness across every engagement in alignment with The FEP Standard™.

He holds full authority over agent selection, team composition, and field performance. Robert determines deployment structure based on client risk, operational requirements, and mission fit, and enforces immediate accountability across all protective personnel. 

Robert serves as the primary operational authority during active or potential security incidents, executing protective decisions in real time and reporting directly to the CEO.

With over 16 years of experience in executive protection and law enforcement, he has led operations for Fortune 500 executives, dignitaries, and high-net-worth individuals in both domestic and international environments. His background includes roles supporting the United States Marshals Service, Department of State, and private-sector protection teams, maintaining a consistent record of zero-incident performance in high-risk environments.

Robert ensures that François Executive Partners operates in the field with precision, discipline, and zero margin for failure.

Dale Nissenbaum, Esq.
Fractional General Counsel

Office of the CEO, François Executive Partners™
Legal Strategy, Compliance & Risk Management

Dale Nissenbaum serves as Fractional General Counsel for François Executive Partners, providing executive-level legal strategy, governance oversight, and risk management across the firm’s operations and client engagements. She is a seasoned General Counsel and C-suite advisor with over 15 years of experience guiding organizations through complex legal, regulatory, and strategic environments.

Her background spans public, private, and nonprofit sectors across industries including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and global consulting. She has advised on high-stakes matters ranging from mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructuring to enterprise risk management and compliance strategy, including the sale of a manufacturing business to private equity. Her experience operating within organizations with nationwide and global footprints positions her to navigate the legal and operational complexities faced by FEP and its clients.

Prior to joining FEP, Dale served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief People Officer at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where she led enterprise-wide legal, compliance, and human capital functions. She advised the Board of Directors and executive leadership on governance, risk, and strategic initiatives, while overseeing litigation, regulatory compliance, and major transactions. Her leadership extended to building organizational infrastructure that strengthened accountability, reduced risk exposure, and supported long-term growth.

She previously served as General Counsel for the Americas at Brunswick Group, advising senior leadership across multiple international markets on cross-border transactions, compliance, and corporate risk. Earlier in her career, she held senior legal leadership roles within a $700M manufacturing organization and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, supporting large-scale operations, global development projects, and complex commercial agreements. Prior to going in-house, she practiced at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, advising on mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and strategic corporate transactions for multinational clients.

At FEP, Dale ensures that the firm’s operations, partnerships, and client engagements are structured with clarity, protection, and strategic foresight. Her approach integrates legal precision with business acumen, reinforcing FEP’s ability to operate at the highest level while minimizing risk in dynamic, high-stakes environments.

She holds a Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.