TurnkeyZRG Assists Pac-12 Conference with Chief People and Inclusion Officer
September 19, 2022 – TurnkeyZRG recently assisted the Pac-12 Conference in the recruitment of Quashan Lockett as chief people and inclusion officer. “The Pac-12 is committed to building a best-in-class organization and culture, and we are thrilled to have found a leader who brings a track record of success and deep experience in both human capital management and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB),” said Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff. “Our Pac-12 universities and the conference have been at the forefront of DEIB efforts, and with Quashan’s appointment we will be in a position to extend our leadership and best support our valued employees and members.”
Mr. Lockett has a 17-year track record of building high performance and culturally strong organizations across the sports, entertainment, retail, technology, and hospitality industries. His career has been highlighted by delivering impactful human capital management, organization development, and business transformation strategies to organizations, teams, and stakeholders. Mr. Lockett is also the founder of Color of Sports, a purpose driven change agency whose mission is to disrupt structural inequality, build a more equitable and humanized future, and drive social change through the power of sports and entertainment.
Mr. Lockett most recently served as global head of human resources at On Location, a sports and entertainment premium experiential hospitality company owned by Endeavor. In that role, he provided strategic leadership for key people and organizational activities globally, including talent management, leadership development, people operations, organization development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Prior to that, Mr. Lockett was vice president, human resources and head of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Legends, a premium experiences company whose clients include many of the world’s most iconic sports and entertainment brands. His experience also includes senior roles at Avis Budget Group, Giant Eagle, and Aramark Sports & Entertainment.
Serving on the Pac-12 leadership team and working across the conference office and with university athletic departments, Mr. Lockett will oversee the organization’s holistic people function encompassing HR, talent development, change management, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and will drive the enhancement and acceleration of the Pac-12’s values-based culture and DEIB and social impact strategies.
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“I am thrilled to join the Pac-12 Conference as their first-ever chief people and inclusion officer,” said Mr. Lockett. “Sport and athletics have the unique power to unify people, drive culture, and create positive change. I’m passionate about building inclusive, equitable and people-centric organizations and with the rapid and continuously evolving landscape of college athletics, I am excited to work alongside George, the Pac-12 executive team, and the member university athletic departments to ensure that our values and commitment to DEIB are front and center. I am looking-forward to supporting, empowering, and advocating for our student-athletes and employees and helping to elevate their overall experience and well-being to the next level.”
Serving Sports, Media and Entertainment Organizations
Founded in 1996, TurnkeyZRG is a specialized talent recruitment/executive search firm filling C-level, senior-level and mid-management-level positions throughout sports, media and entertainment. Over the past 25 years, the firm has filled more than 1,400 positions. TurnkeyZRG helps teams, leagues, stadiums, arenas, theaters, college athletic departments, events, sponsors, agencies, media companies, private equity companies and other clients identify, recruit, and hire the best management talent.
TurnkeyZRG Assists the Atlantic Coast Conference in Finding New Commissioner
TurnkeyZRG has assisted the Atlantic Coast Conference in the selection of James J. Phillips, the Combe Family vice president for athletics & recreation at Northwestern University, as its next commissioner.
The ACC conducted a comprehensive, inclusive nationwide search process facilitated by TurnkeyZRG. The firm spoke with stakeholders across the ACC in developing the job description, and assembled a diverse array of candidates across sports, education, business and government.
“Jim is one of the most talented athletic administrators in the country and uniquely qualified to successfully and seamlessly take over the helm of the ACC,” says ACC Board Chair Kent Syverud (Syracuse University). “Over the course of nearly 13 years, Jim has elevated and cemented Northwestern’s position as an outstanding Power 5 athletics program. Northwestern’s ascension in the world of intercollegiate athletics is a testament to Jim’s vision, leadership and foundational dedication to the success of student athletes. The ACC is fortunate to have someone of Jim’s caliber and integrity lead the conference at this pivotal moment in intercollegiate athletics.”
Collectively, the members of TurnkeyZRG have placed coaches and athletics directors at many PAC-12 universities, including Arizona, Cal, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington, and Washington State. Late last year, TurnkeyZRG helped the ACC hire its next commissioner, James J. Phillips, the Combe Family vice president for athletics and recreation at Northwestern University. TurnkeyZRG spoke with stakeholders across the ACC in developing the job description, and assembled a diverse array of candidates across sports, education, business, and government.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
