Atlanta Hawks Hire Diversity Chief in Wake of Racist Comments

The Atlanta Hawks have hired Nzinga Shaw as the team’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
The Hawks announced Thursday, Dec. 11, that Shaw will guide Hawks executives “so that they can engender inclusivity in every facet of the business.” She’ll report directly to Hawks chief executive officer Steve Koonin.
The hiring follows racist remarks by owner Bruce Levenson and general manager Danny Ferry, which were made public before the season began. Levenson is selling his majority share of the team, and Ferry has taken an indefinite leave of absence.
In a statement released by the Atlanta Hawks, Shaw said her goal is to help the Hawks “continue to rebuild trust and partnership in the Atlanta community.”
Shaw most recently held a similar position at Edelman, a public relations agency.