WME parent company Endeavor announced on Monday that it has hired former Under Armour executive Kerry Chandler as the entertainment company’s new chief human resources officer.
“As Endeavor continues evolving and expanding, the human resources function and its role in maintaining an environment where our employees have the support and resources to really thrive and seize opportunities become more important than ever,” Endeavor CEO Ariel Emanuelsaid in a statement. “Kerry brings incredible experience across all of the key drivers in creating, and sustaining, this type of environment on a global scale.”
Before serving as chief human resource officer at Under Armour, Chandler held senior executive HR roles with Christie’s International, the National Basketball Association, Disney and ESPN, IBM, and Motorola, among others. Chandler takes over the role at Endeavor, replacing Carole Katz who is stepping down after 18 years with the company. Katz with retain an advisory role with Endeavor in the interim.
Chandler will work across all of Endeavor’s sports, fashion and entertainment companies, which include WME, IMG and UFC.
“Endeavor has undergone an amazing transformation over the last several years, establishing a significant presence across all facets of media,” Chandler said in a statement. “It’s an exciting time to become part of this company’s journey and have an opportunity to support such a passionate and driven team.”
Chandler began her career as an HR representative at the McDonnell Douglas Corporation before a series of positions with Exxon, Motorola, and IBM. A love for sports brought her to ESPN in 2000 where she served as a Senior Vice President, overseeing HR operations for the company.
She later held several similar positions within the Disney family including a key role at Hong Kong Disneyland before transitioning to the NBA in 2007 where she rose to Executive Vice President. She then moved on to Christie’s before joining Under Armour as Chief Human Resources Officer in 2015.
Chandler has received numerous recognitions including being named a “Game Changer” among women in sports by the SportsBusiness Journal; one of “The Most Powerful Women in Business” by Black Enterprise; and BizWomen’s “Top 100 Business Women to Watch.”
Chandler is currently a member of the Human Resources Policy Institute (HRPI) and the Executive Leadership Council (ELC). She also serves on the espnW Advisory Panel, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the board of the New York Urban League. Chandler has previously served on the boards of the University of Exeter’s Center for Leadership Studies in the United Kingdom; the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC); Her Justice, an organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of women who are victims of domestic violence; and the Senior Human Resources Forum of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, among others.