Executive Team
Wayne Aaron
Manager & Chairman of the Board
Wayne Aaron provides strategic leadership and governance oversight to HiYield, drawing on decades of executive experience leading complex global organizations.
A former President and Chief Executive Officer across multiple international companies, Mr. Aaron has built, operated, and scaled businesses in manufacturing, retail systems, and corporate services. He began his career at Ford Motor Company working alongside senior leadership, developing a foundation in operational excellence and disciplined execution.
Throughout his career, Mr. Aaron has founded and led successful enterprises, advised organizations on growth strategy, and served in chairman and board leadership roles. His experience guiding companies through expansion, operational transformation, and market positioning supports HiYield’s long-term strategy, leadership discipline, and institutional credibility.
Thomas E. Magness
Operating Manager, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer
Thomas Magness leads HiYield’s operations, financial strategy, and execution, bringing a career defined by complex project delivery, operational leadership, and global business development.
Mr. Magness has held senior executive roles across retail systems, facility development, marketing strategy, and international project management. He has directed large multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, and designers to deliver state-of-the-art facilities and large-scale commercial environments worldwide.
As a principal and executive leader, he has built and operated businesses across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, consistently delivering capital-intensive projects, managing financial performance, and applying process-driven operational systems. His experience aligning design, engineering, finance, and execution strengthens HiYield’s ability to deploy advanced recovery systems efficiently and at scale.
James E. D. Howard
Manager, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Technical Officer
James Howard oversees HiYield’s technical operations and industrial execution, bringing deep expertise in large-scale chemical manufacturing, materials science, and operational performance.
Mr. Howard previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of multiple global manufacturing organizations, including leadership of a major North American carbon materials producer. He managed multi-site operations, led hundreds of employees, and directed facilities generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue.
His leadership delivered significant profitability improvements and revenue growth in highly competitive industrial markets. With broad experience across chemical, materials, and engineered product sectors, Mr. Howard ensures HiYield’s recovery technologies operate with industrial reliability, efficiency, and performance discipline.
James G. McCormick
Manager
James McCormick brings extensive financial markets, institutional trading, and capital strategy expertise to HiYield’s leadership team.
With more than three decades in global financial services, Mr. McCormick has held senior executive roles across international banking, securities markets, and quantitative investment management. He has led trading organizations, managed complex financial operations, and served in governance roles across major exchanges and clearing institutions.
As a founder and investment firm partner, he has built and managed sophisticated capital strategies and risk-managed portfolios. His experience strengthens HiYield’s financial governance, capital planning, and institutional market relationships.
David A. Rapaport
General Counsel
David Rapaport leads HiYield’s legal strategy, governance, and corporate structuring with more than 35 years of experience in corporate law, capital markets, and public company leadership.
Mr. Rapaport has served as Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, and General Counsel across multiple public and private companies. His background includes capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.
He has guided public offerings, structured complex business combinations, and advised growth-stage enterprises across diverse industries including technology, industrial services, and specialty manufacturing. His legal and executive leadership ensures HiYield operates with strong governance, disciplined compliance, and sound corporate structure.
