Karen Durkin was named Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Sports Foundation in April 2008. Karen’s professional career spans nearly two decades in sports marketing and entertainment and comes with a recognized expertise in business strategy, brand development and marketing and communications. She joined the Foundation most recently from the National Hockey League (NHL), where she served as executive vice president of communications and brand strategy. Prior to her role at the NHL, Karen was 11 years with the Ladies Professional Golf Association, where she held various roles of increasing responsibility in the areas of sponsorships, business development, licensing, and marketing and communications. During her tenure at the LPGA, Karen served as the organization’s key business and communications strategist and was instrumental in the development and execution of the LPGA’s precedent-setting “Fans First” business plan and its subsequent highly successful brand communications platform These Girls Rock. She left the LPGA as executive vice president and chief marketing officer to join the NHL. Karen began her career at New York-based Cohn & Wolfe Public Relations, at the time, a Burson-Marsteller company.
“Karen’s depth of sports marketing experience will help deliver to the Women’s Sports Foundation lasting partnerships, an increase in financial support, a stronger brand presence and awareness for the important work that we do,” said Billie Jean King upon Karen’s announcement as CEO. “Her career is an affirmation of what women can do for sports and through sports. We’re delighted to welcome her.”
Raised in Stamford, Conn., Karen is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Rochester, where she earned a bachelor of arts in music, studied flute at the Eastman School of Music and minored in English. She also holds a master’s of science from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. At the University of Rochester, Karen captained the varsity swimming team and played point guard on the varsity basketball team. She also was an accomplished amateur golfer and is a three-time champion of the Stamford (Conn.) City golf tournament.
Karen currently serves on the board of the Executive Women’s Golf Association. She was named one of Sports Illustrated’s most influential women in golf in 2005 and to Golfweek Magazine’s 2002 “Forty Under 40” as among those likely to shape the game and the business.
“It’s an extraordinary privilege to have been selected to work with the remarkable founder, Billie Jean King, a talented staff and all the foundation’s many committed and passionate supporters,” said Karen when named CEO. “I understand the profound impact sports can have on young girls and am enthusiastic about the opportunity to lead an organization that works every day to positively affect girls and women through sports.”