2023 Distinguished Alumni Award

Karen Bennett is the executive vice president and chief people officer for Cox Enterprises, a private, family-owned company based in Atlanta, Georgia, with more than $20 billion in annual revenues. In her role, she leads the people solutions, corporate affairs, inclusion & diversity, HR technology services, benefits, compensation, talent acquisition and the brand, marketing and creative departments.

Bennett brings more than 25 years of experience in leading teams that focus on maximizing talent potential and the total employee experience while addressing the needs of the business.

Before joining Cox Enterprises, Karen was EVP and chief people officer for Cox Communications. There, she developed and executed talent strategies to align with Cox’s operating principles and worked through the challenges of driving continual growth in the business. Prior to that role, Karen was chief human resources officer for Cox Media Group. Before her time with Cox, Bennett was chief human resources officer for YP (formerly AT&T Ad Solutions). She is a cable veteran as well, having served as senior vice president of human resources for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. for nearly 14 years.

Bennett serves on the board of directors of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) Foundation, the board of directors for the Human Resources Leadership Forum of Atlanta, the WICT Network global board of directors, the Emma Bowen Foundation board of directors and the Georgia State University’s HR Roundtable consortium.

Bennett is a graduate of Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia where she earned both her bachelor’s and executive MBA degrees. She is an ICF-certified executive coach.