UPDATED Feb. 26, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. ET
Cynt Marshall at Dallas Mavericks press conference on Feb. 26, 2018.
Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, a former AT&T (No. 3 on the Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies list) executive, was named interim CEO of The Dallas Mavericks (Mavs) on Monday afternoon at a press conference.
Sitting with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, Marshall said, “In my wildest dreams, and I’ve had some pretty big dreams in my life, I never saw this coming.”
Marshall said she received a phone call from Cuban with a “passionate and heartfelt invitation to contribute to sports and the community in a very unique way.”
She then addressed the recent sexual harassment allegations against Mavs executives.
“I’m honored to have been asked by Mark to join him in addressing some very serious issues,” she commented. “I’m saddened that issues of domestic violence and sexual harassment are so prominent in our society and allegations have surfaced once again in the [Dallas Mavericks] organization.”
Marshall named three immediate areas of focus: the investigation, culture transformation and operational effectiveness.
See the complete press conference.
ORIGINAL STORY
At a press conference on Monday, The Dallas Mavericks (Mavs) will name former AT&T executive Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall as interim CEO, according to USA Today.
Before retiring last year, Marshall was senior vice president of human resources AT&T Services, Inc., appointed in 2012, and also held the position of chief diversity officer, appointed in 2015.
“I’m proud to play a role in AT&T’s diversity efforts,”she said in 2015. “For decades, a commitment to diversity and inclusion has informed our beliefs, strategies, practices and success. Our inclusive culture runs deep and impacts every employee every day and it’s a privilege to build on such a rich tradition.”
Marshall, who has more than 30 years of experience in leadership, diversity and inclusion, was responsible for developing and implementing the company’s people strategy. Her internal client management for 245,000 employees around the globe included Workforce 2020 skills transformation, succession planning, performance development, leadership development, talent management, employee relations, employee engagement, executive recruiting, organizational development, diversity and more.
Marshall was the head of all things human resources, diversity and inclusion, EEO and Affirmative Action.
During Fair360, formerly DiversityInc’s fall 2016 conference, “Conquering Recruiting Challenges,” in Newark, N.J., Fair360, formerly DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti moderated a “Candid Conversation: How to Hold Internal Executive Recruiters Accountable for Presenting Diverse Slates” featuring Marshall.
A CEO was not listed in the executive staff directory of the Mavs’ 2017-18 media guide, which was released before the start of the season.
According to a Dallas Morning News report: “It is believed Marshall’s title will be interim executive chairwoman, but the key is that she will run all non-basketball operations. Marshall was introduced to front office members Friday.”
Marshall’s appointment follows recent sexual harassment allegations against Mavs executives detailed in a Sports Illustrated report.
“Terdema Ussery was a long-time Mavs executive and was accused by at least two women of sexually harassing them for years,” according to USA. “He left the team in 2015. Earl K. Sneed, a former writer for the Mavericks’ website, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his then-girlfriend and eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in 2012, according to the report. Sneed was fired last week.”
