Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall plans to retire from her post effective December 31, according to the team.
When then-Mavs-majority owner Mark Cuban hired her in March 2018, Marshall -- a former 36-year AT&T executive -- became the first Black female CEO in the history of the NBA. That was only months after the hashtag #MeToo went viral in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein -- a time when the Mavericks organization found itself embroiled in its own workplace controversies involving sexual misconduct and harassment.
Under Marshall's leadership, the Mavericks organization emerged from that controversy, with other women taking Mavs leadership posts amid a renewed focus on diversity and inclusion put in place.
During her tenure, the Mavs launched Girls Empowered by Mavericks -- GEM for short -- with the goal of engaging, inspiring, and empowering girls 9 to 14 through continued development and success. Presented by UT Southwestern, the program focuses on education, financial literacy, mental and physical health, and sports participation.
"Bringing Cynt to the Mavericks six years ago was one of the smartest decisions I've ever made," Cuban said in a statement. "She has led this organization to new heights with grace and integrity, and her light will continue to shine bright throughout the community." Cuban remains a minority Mavs owner after selling much of his majority stake last November to Miriam Adelson, widow of Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, and her family.
Last December, Marshall was named board chair of the Dallas Regional Chamber.
"Cynt is a champion for the entire Dallas region and has been a great friend to the DRC since she joined the Mavs," Dale Petroskey, DRC president and CEO, said in a statement at the time. "She played a key role in launching the DRC's work in Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement and our commitment to growing economic prosperity in Southern Dallas County and has been its biggest supporter since."
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