Following the exit of its chief diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officer Lesley Slaton Brown this month, the NBA is forming a new sub-department called Social Impact and Inclusion, ADWEEK has learned.
An internal memo, obtained by ADWEEK, stated the new team will launch on June 16 and will be led by Barbara Bush, daugther of former President George W. Bush, who is promoted to senior vice president of social impact and inclusion. She was previously the league’s vice president of social impact since 2023, where she led efforts in racial justice, public service, and health initiatives.
Bush will report to Kathy Behren, the NBA’s president of social responsibility and player programs.
“This new structure will allow us to better connect our colleagues to our impact efforts and ensure that our game is accessible to fans around the world,” read the email, which was sent to all NBA staff “a couple of weeks ago,” per a source familiar with the matter.
“It will also help us create a more inclusive and welcoming workplace, one where all employees feel respected and empowered to do their best work,” it continued.
In a statement shared with ADWEEK, the NBA said that the new group “will bring together the NBA’s and WNBA’s efforts in civic engagement and workplace inclusion to better serve our stakeholders and communities.”
DEI chief exits
The news comes as Slaton Brown wraps up her tenure as the league’s DEI chief.
In April, ADWEEK reported that the exec is stepping down from her role at the end of the season to move back to the West Coast. At the time of her departure, the NBA said it would not be backfilling her position.
Brown joined the NBA as chief DEI officer in 2023. During her tenure, she worked with the league’s chief people officer Sabrina Ellis and individual teams’ diversity and inclusion leaders to implement and advance programs such as recruiting diverse talent and developing employee resource programs.