NCCHR Board of Directors Welcomes New Leaders
Four new members help advance NCCHR’s mission and expansion strategy. Egbert Perry, Chairman of Integral, succeeds Hon. Shirley Franklin as board Chair.
February 22, 2024 (ATLANTA) – The National Center for Civil and Human Rights welcomed a new class to its board of directors. The new directors, who bring a wealth of corporate, operational, and communications experience to the organization, are invited to serve two three-year terms.
The new board members, all based in Atlanta, are:
- Mohammad “Mo” Azam, Chief Audit & Compliance Executive, UPS.
- Karen Bennett, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Cox Enterprises.
- Soon Mee Kim, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Omnicom Communications Consultancy Network.
- Justin Sullivan, Senior Vice President, PNC Private Bank.
In addition to the new members, The Center’s board elected Egbert L. J. Perry, Chairman of Integral, as its new Chair. Perry has been involved with the organization since the idea of The Center was initially explored and has served as a founding board member since The Center was organized. He will succeed the Hon. Shirley Franklin, who held the position for more than a decade and will remain on the board.
“As we mark our tenth anniversary, we continue to attract exceptional leaders to help us deliver on our mission to protect rights and inspire changemaking for human dignity,” said Perry. “Shirley’s remarkable leadership created The Center, and she has shaped our growth and success. On behalf of the board, I express my deepest gratitude for Shirley’s determination and vision. We are fortunate that she will continue to serve with us during this exciting phase of expansion.”
A.J. Robinson, CEO of Central Atlanta Progress, and another founding board member, will remain Vice-Chair of The Center’s board.
At the end of 2023, three members rolled off the board at the close of their terms: Bob Jimenez, Ingrid Saunders-Jones, and Juliet Sorenson.
“We look forward to engaging our new board members during this pivotal phase, and we offer our deepest thanks to Ingrid, Bob, and Juliet,” said Jill Savitt, The Center’s President and CEO.
Full biographies and photos for all NCCHR board members can be accessed at civilandhumanrights.org/about-the-center/staff-board/.
Mohammad “Mo” Azam is the Chief Audit & Compliance Executive for UPS. Azam is responsible for global audit, compliance, and ethics-related activities. He oversees UPS’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Privacy process. Before joining UPS, Azam held senior finance positions with multinational organizations, including Mellon Bank, Ford Motor Company, Dole Packaged Foods, and Sega Internet Games. He is a Certified Public Accountant from the State of California and a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), serving on its Atlanta Chapter’s Board of Governors. Azam is a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Asian American Professionals.
Karen Bennett is the Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer for Cox Enterprises. She leads the company’s people solutions, corporate affairs, inclusion & diversity, HR technology services, benefits, compensation, talent acquisition, brand, marketing, and creative departments. Before joining Cox Enterprises, Bennett was most recently EVP and Chief People Officer for Cox Communications. Bennett serves on the board of directors of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) Foundation, the Human Resources Leadership Forum of Atlanta, and the Metro Atlanta American Heart Association.
Soon Mee Kim is Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Omnicom Communications Consultancy Network, a division of Omnicom Group. In her role, she catalyzes systemic equity within the Omnicom People Engagement Network (OPEN), working with intention and urgency to drive change. Previously, Kim was most recently Executive Vice President and Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader for Porter Novelli. Kim serves on the national boards of ColorComm, The LAGRANT Foundation, and the Forum for Theological Exploration. She is a founding member of VOICES for AAPI and an editorial advisory board member for Atlanta Magazine.
Justin Sullivan is a Senior Vice President and a Market Leader for the PNC Private Bank. He oversees Georgia’s Private Bank team, advising clients through investment, trust, financial planning, and private banking services to help them achieve their financial goals. Previously, Sullivan was a Regional Manager over a team of investment advisors in North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Preceding that role, he was an Investment Advisor with PNC in multiple markets, including Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Sullivan serves on the executive board of the Midtown Alliance.
About NCCHR’s Nominating Process
NCCHR’s Nominating Sub-Committee, led by board member Katie Fahs, undertakes an annual process each spring to assess the mix of skills and expertise needed for NCCHR to fulfill its mission and then solicits nominations from the entire board for the next board class to meet those needs. Current board members interview candidates and compile a slate that ensures the board has diverse voices. The board votes each fall for a new class. NCCHR’s board members are invited to serve two three-year terms.
About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
NCCHR is a museum and cultural organization that inspires the changemaker in each of us. Founded in 2014, NCCHR connects the US civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to global human rights movements for people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and more. Our immersive and empathy-building experiences highlight people who have worked to protect rights and model how individuals create positive change.
Contact:
James Richards, Communications Director | [email protected], 404.844.4692