Keith Dawkins
President
Harlem Globetrotters and Herschend Entertainment Studios
Keith Dawkins joined the organization in 2022 and serves as President, Harlem Globetrotters and Herschend Entertainment Studios; charged with the overall day-to-day operations of both entities. In his role, he spearheads the brands ongoing evolution from an event business, spanning 124 countries across 6 continents, to a global branded entertainment force. This is a new era of growth and excitement for the Harlem Globetrotters as the brand prepares to celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2026.
Dawkins has spearheaded its growth across media/entertainment, corporate social responsibility, digital/social media and through a variety of strategic partnerships that are re-energizing its global footprint. Chief amongst them being a deal he orchestrated with Hearst Media Production Group that marked the Harlem Globetrotters’ return to television for the first time in 40 years, with the hit Emmy® Award nominated NBC weekly series, “HarlemGlobetrotters: Play it Forward.” The partnership with Hearst Media Production Group marks a new era for theGlobetrotters in the content space as Dawkins is creating a new development slate for the brand, closing deals with key partners for documentaries, animated series & specials, branded digital entertainment with partners like BBTV and ViralNation and a variety of scripted and unscripted formats.
Dawkins also launched the Goodwill Ambassador Initiative to foster the Globetrotters’ corporate & social responsibility efforts. Centered around the strategic pillars of Health & Wellness, Education and Community Empowerment, the initiative has already struck partnership with Comic Relief/Red Nose Day, the State Department, Microsoft, and CampusMultimedia.Dawkins is a strategic, creative, award-winning Chief Executive Officer with 25+ years of experience in the media/entertainment, professional sports, and philanthropic industries. Dawkins is a results-oriented executive with a global business acumen evidenced across all operations; setting company strategy; leadership and management; deal negotiations; international sales; P&L oversight; and driving revenue growth. He has a strong background in marketing, content strategy and creation, and forging strategic partnerships with high-profile brands. Dawkins is recognized for his energetic, pro-active and collaborative leadership style and for his ability to motivate and galvanize diverse teams in ways that generate ideas, drive growth, and yield results. Dawkins is the sole proprietor of Rock Hill Media Ventures (RHMV), the media company he founded in 2018.
The company is led by its deep commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (I.D.E.A) and focuses on three specific concentrations within that frame: media/entertainment, sports, and social impact, with a particular expertise in business strategy, marketing, and content creation. RHMV counts the National Basketball Players Association, award-winning production companies such as Believe Entertainment Group and 9Story Media Group, global distributors, Sutikki and Toonz Media Group, Battat Entertainment Group – a division of Battat toy company, former NFL player, RashadJennings, a variety of social impact partners and many others as clients and strategic partners.Previously, Dawkins served as the Chief Executive Officer of The First Tee, a non-profit organization that annually reaches five million young people; impacting their lives by providing programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Partnering with The First Tee’s Founding partners, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA, as well as former President George W. Bush, who serves as honorary chair, The First Tee uses the values inherent in the game of golf to positively impact the lives of young people while also striving to grow and diversify the sport. As the CEO, Keith was responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the organization, including 150 domestic chapters, six international chapters, 1200 golf courses and a National School Program that puts content from The First Tee in 10,000 elementary schools. He strategically directedThe First Tee in order to evolve the company, expand its reach and build its national and global prominence.
Prior to The First Tee, Dawkins served as Nickelodeon’s first ever General Manager for the Nicktoons Network. Over theyears he rose within the organization to Executive Vice President where his purview included overseeing TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. and NickMusic channels. He was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the networks, including programming, marketing, digital/social media and on-air promotion. He also launched key programming and marketing initiatives including Nickelodeon Sports, which included a primetime programming block and on-the-ground marketing activations, in partnership with professional sports leagues including, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NFL and the PGA TOUR andTeenNick’s The Splat, a multiscreen content destination for millennials who love 90s Nickelodeon. He is viewed as an industry leader and expert in this sector of the media business.Prior to Viacom, Keith served as producer at Fox News Channel where he was part of the network’s original launch team, producing a variety of daily and live event coverage such as Super Bowl XXXI and President Bill Clinton’s impeachment proceedings. Throughout his career, Dawkins has been recognized with numerous leadership and industry expertise awards, including his recent Emmy nomination for “Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward.” In addition, he has been involved in various boards including the Board of Advisors for Calyx Peak Companies, the Board of Governors of Ramapo College of NewJersey, where he also serves as an Adjunct Professor, a former board member of the NY chapter of “Reach Out andRead,” and the inaugural President of the Ridgewood High School Alumni Association. A graduate of the CTAM Executive Management Program at Harvard Business School and the NAMIC ExecutiveLeadership Program at UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management,
Dawkins holds a Bachelor’s Degree inCommunication from Ramapo College. He currently resides in Ridgewood, NJ, with his wife and two sons
Dawkins has spearheaded its growth across media/entertainment, corporate social responsibility, digital/social media and through a variety of strategic partnerships that are re-energizing its global footprint. Chief amongst them being a deal he orchestrated with Hearst Media Production Group that marked the Harlem Globetrotters’ return to television for the first time in 40 years, with the hit Emmy® Award nominated NBC weekly series, “HarlemGlobetrotters: Play it Forward.” The partnership with Hearst Media Production Group marks a new era for theGlobetrotters in the content space as Dawkins is creating a new development slate for the brand, closing deals with key partners for documentaries, animated series & specials, branded digital entertainment with partners like BBTV and ViralNation and a variety of scripted and unscripted formats.
Dawkins also launched the Goodwill Ambassador Initiative to foster the Globetrotters’ corporate & social responsibility efforts. Centered around the strategic pillars of Health & Wellness, Education and Community Empowerment, the initiative has already struck partnership with Comic Relief/Red Nose Day, the State Department, Microsoft, and CampusMultimedia.Dawkins is a strategic, creative, award-winning Chief Executive Officer with 25+ years of experience in the media/entertainment, professional sports, and philanthropic industries. Dawkins is a results-oriented executive with a global business acumen evidenced across all operations; setting company strategy; leadership and management; deal negotiations; international sales; P&L oversight; and driving revenue growth. He has a strong background in marketing, content strategy and creation, and forging strategic partnerships with high-profile brands. Dawkins is recognized for his energetic, pro-active and collaborative leadership style and for his ability to motivate and galvanize diverse teams in ways that generate ideas, drive growth, and yield results. Dawkins is the sole proprietor of Rock Hill Media Ventures (RHMV), the media company he founded in 2018.
The company is led by its deep commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (I.D.E.A) and focuses on three specific concentrations within that frame: media/entertainment, sports, and social impact, with a particular expertise in business strategy, marketing, and content creation. RHMV counts the National Basketball Players Association, award-winning production companies such as Believe Entertainment Group and 9Story Media Group, global distributors, Sutikki and Toonz Media Group, Battat Entertainment Group – a division of Battat toy company, former NFL player, RashadJennings, a variety of social impact partners and many others as clients and strategic partners.Previously, Dawkins served as the Chief Executive Officer of The First Tee, a non-profit organization that annually reaches five million young people; impacting their lives by providing programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Partnering with The First Tee’s Founding partners, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA, as well as former President George W. Bush, who serves as honorary chair, The First Tee uses the values inherent in the game of golf to positively impact the lives of young people while also striving to grow and diversify the sport. As the CEO, Keith was responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the organization, including 150 domestic chapters, six international chapters, 1200 golf courses and a National School Program that puts content from The First Tee in 10,000 elementary schools. He strategically directedThe First Tee in order to evolve the company, expand its reach and build its national and global prominence.
Prior to The First Tee, Dawkins served as Nickelodeon’s first ever General Manager for the Nicktoons Network. Over theyears he rose within the organization to Executive Vice President where his purview included overseeing TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. and NickMusic channels. He was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the networks, including programming, marketing, digital/social media and on-air promotion. He also launched key programming and marketing initiatives including Nickelodeon Sports, which included a primetime programming block and on-the-ground marketing activations, in partnership with professional sports leagues including, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NFL and the PGA TOUR andTeenNick’s The Splat, a multiscreen content destination for millennials who love 90s Nickelodeon. He is viewed as an industry leader and expert in this sector of the media business.Prior to Viacom, Keith served as producer at Fox News Channel where he was part of the network’s original launch team, producing a variety of daily and live event coverage such as Super Bowl XXXI and President Bill Clinton’s impeachment proceedings. Throughout his career, Dawkins has been recognized with numerous leadership and industry expertise awards, including his recent Emmy nomination for “Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward.” In addition, he has been involved in various boards including the Board of Advisors for Calyx Peak Companies, the Board of Governors of Ramapo College of NewJersey, where he also serves as an Adjunct Professor, a former board member of the NY chapter of “Reach Out andRead,” and the inaugural President of the Ridgewood High School Alumni Association. A graduate of the CTAM Executive Management Program at Harvard Business School and the NAMIC ExecutiveLeadership Program at UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management,
Dawkins holds a Bachelor’s Degree inCommunication from Ramapo College. He currently resides in Ridgewood, NJ, with his wife and two sons