Foundation Partners Group Appoints CFO and Chief People Officer to Build Leading Operating Company and Best Place to Work for Funeral Directors and Field Leaders
Advancing The FPG Way – Uniting Talent, Leadership and Execution
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 15, 2025) — Foundation Partners Group, the nation’s second-largest provider of funeral services, today announced the appointments of Ben Brink as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Gabrielle McCarron as Chief People Officer. These additions strengthen the company’s executive leadership team as it accelerates its Pathway 2028 strategy and continues building a unified, high-performing operating company.
Together, Brink and McCarron bring deep, complementary expertise across financial discipline, operational execution, talent strategy and leadership development—capabilities that are foundational to the company’s next phase of growth.
“This is about building the company we know we can be,” said John D. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Partners. “We are creating a high-performance culture grounded in The FPG Way — where we invest in our people, build strong leaders and execute with consistency and accountability. For funeral directors and field leaders who want to grow, develop and be part of something meaningful, Foundation Partners is the place to build a career.”
Ben Brink Appointed Chief Financial Officer
Ben Brink, an industry veteran with more than two decades of financial leadership experience, joined Foundation Partners as CFO in March 2026. He oversees the company’s financial strategy, long-range planning, capital structure and performance management. Most recently, Brink served as CFO of Carriage Services, a publicly traded consolidator of funeral homes and cemeteries.
“Ben brings deep expertise in capital allocation, trust management, M&A execution, investor relations and building scalable support platforms aligned with our industry,” said John D. Smith, Foundation Partners’ CEO. “As we continue strengthening our operating model, Ben will help ensure we allocate capital thoughtfully, drive performance with clarity and accountability, and build a world-class support center that serves our local teams. Most importantly, Ben’s mindset and skillset are closely aligned with The FPG Way – the operating system and culture that unifies our people, processes and brands and support a consistent experience for the families we serve.”
Brink began his career at International Paper before joining Carriage Services in 2009, where he rose through the ranks over 13 years to serve as treasurer, executive vice president and CFO. In 2022, he stepped away from Carriage to help his brother revitalize his family’s athletic footwear brand, Osaga, a pioneer in high-performance sneakers founded by his grandfather in the early 1970s.
“I have a deep appreciation for the important and meaningful work performed by funeral and cemetery professionals,” Brink said. “Foundation Partners has an extraordinary opportunity to build the best operating company in our industry—one that combines strong local leadership with disciplined financial stewardship and a unified culture driven by The FPG Way.”
Gabrielle McCarron Joins as Chief People Officer
Gabrielle McCarron joined Foundation Partners as Chief People Officer effective April 6, 2026. She leads the company’s people and leadership strategy with a focus on building the strongest team of funeral directors and field leaders in the industry. In addition, McCarron will be instrumental in creating an environment that attracts and retains the very best functional leaders in our support center to support those in the field serving families.
McCarron brings extensive experience building high-performing, people-centered organizations in licensed provider environments. Most recently, she served as Chief People and Brand Officer at North American Dental Group, where she led the full talent lifecycle across a large, multi-site licensed provider organization. Her work improved provider retention, elevated leadership effectiveness, and implemented KPI-driven talent systems that increased productivity and reduced turnover.
Smith said, “Everything we do starts with our people—from our funeral directors serving families to the frontline and regional leaders who coach teams and drive results every day. Gabby understands that building a great company requires both exceptional licensed professionals and strong, accountable leadership. She will play a critical role in strengthening our culture and ensuring Foundation Partners is the best place to work in our profession.”
McCarron will focus on elevating the team member experience; strengthening leadership pipelines; and embedding development, coaching and accountability into the company’s operating model—reinforcing The FPG Way.
“I’m honored to join a company so deeply committed to its people and its purpose,” said McCarron. “Funeral service professionals carry incredible responsibility, and strong leadership and support are essential to helping them succeed. I’m excited to partner across the organization to build a culture where people are empowered to do their best work for the families we serve.”
McCarron holds dual bachelor’s degrees from the Virginia Military Institute and brings extensive experience partnering with executive teams and boards to align talent, culture and business outcomes.
About Foundation Partners Group
Orlando, Florida-based Foundation Partners Group is one of the funeral industry’s most innovative providers and the second-largest funeral home operator in the country based on families served. The company owns and operates more than 250 funeral homes, cremation centers and cemeteries across 21 states. Through The FPG Way—grounded in serving with purpose, growing together and delivering with discipline—Foundation Partners is committed to developing exceptional leaders and teams while providing compassionate, high-quality care to the families and communities it serves. For more information, visit www.foundationpartners.com.
