Orlando Ashford

As Chief People Officer of Fanatics, Orlando Ashford oversees global human resources for Fanatics Holdings and its three distinct businesses – Commerce, Collectibles, and Betting & Gaming. Ashford’s responsibilities include managing culture, talent development, corporate communications, total rewards, and HR infrastructure, strategy, policies, and operations for the company’s more than 18,000 global employees. In addition, Ashford leads advancement efforts across Fanatics’ principles of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, Advocacy) as well as the company’s philanthropic initiatives, including oversight of the Fanatics Foundation. Beyond Fanatics, Ashford also serves as a strategic advisor and board director for several global public and private companies and is a published author.

Before joining Fanatics, Ashford served as president of Holland America Cruise Line, where he led the award-winning cruise line’s brand and business, including its fleet of premium vessels, spanning all seven continents. In this role, Ashford also oversaw the company’s sales and marketing, revenue management, deployment and itinerary planning, public relations, hotel operations, and strategy. Ashford was widely credited within the cruise industry for re-energizing the Holland America brand, innovating the guest experience, and transforming the corporate culture to embrace inclusion, diversity, and creativity.

Over the course of his 30-year career, Ashford has held leadership roles at additional Fortune 500 companies, including Marsh & McLennan Companies, where he served as president of the Talent Business Segment for Mercer, the global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement, and investments, as well as senior vice president, chief human resources and communications officer of Mercer’s parent company, Marsh & McLennan Companies. Prior to this, Ashford was group director of human resources and vice president Corporate Center human resources and cultural transformation for The Coca-Cola Company, with a global team spanning 90 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Previously, he was vice president of global human resources strategy and organizational development for Motorola Inc., where he helped modernize the human resources function for the global tech leader.

Ashford’s latest book How Did You Get That Job? takes a personal look at the “rules and tools” he has seen, used, and experienced in navigating corporate America, sharing perspectives and advice for those managing their own journey. In his first book Talentism, Ashford examines how technology and human networks can help bridge the skills gap, improve business performance, and lead to the betterment of society at large.

Ashford currently serves on the board of directors for Perrigo, Array Technologies, and Syndio, as well as the national board of Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has also served on various boards prior to this, including ITT, Inc., Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, the Seattle Chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance, Virginia Mason Medical Center, and Year Up, a year-long intensive training program for underserved young adults. He also previously served as a strategic advisor for Sycamore Partners in New York. In 2018, he completed a two-year term as board chair for the Executive Leadership Council (ELC).

Ashford is also considered a thought leader in diversity, human resources, and management. He was selected by Seattle Business Magazine for their 2019 “Executive Excellence Award,” honoring the best leaders within Washington-state business and community. In 2017, Black Enterprise magazine named Ashford to their 2017 list of the “Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America,” and in 2016, he was awarded a Travvy Award for “Most Innovative Executive, Mid-Sized Cruise.” Ashford was also named to the “Directorship 100” of the National Association of Corporate Directors in 2013 and 2014, and since 2012, has been named to Savoy magazine’s list of the “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America.”

Ashford holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and Industrial Technology, both from Purdue University. He is a Purdue University School of Technology Distinguished Alumnus and splits his time between Florida and New York.