As a C-suite executive and Board Director, Orlando Ashford has held high-profile leadership roles at several Fortune 500 companies over the course of his 30-year career. Most recently, Ashford served as Chief People Officer for global digital sports platform Fanatics. During his time there, he oversaw all aspects of human resources as the company grew to 22,000 employees and expanded into new lines of business. This included professionalizing and standardizing past HR practices and overseeing a digital systems transformation for Human Capital Management.

In addition to leading talent acquisition, employee and organizational development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and internal and external communications for Fanatics, Orlando also spearheaded the development of the Fanatics Foundation and Fanatics’ first-of-its-kind partnership with Make-A-Wish. In becoming the wish-granting organization’s official sports partner, Fanatics supported nearly 400 wishes in less than one year. Ashford also developed and launched Fanatics’ Athlete Immersion Program, which provides professional athletes with skills-building and networking opportunities to prepare them for a career after their playing days have ended. 

Ashford remains a close advisor and ambassador for Fanatics, where he continues to guide the company’s Make-A-Wish partnership, including serving as the Fanatics’ representative on their National Board of Directors. Ashford also maintain his position as Fanatics’ Dean of its Athlete Immersion Program.

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. 

Prior to this, Ashford was at 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. Before 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 most recent 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 the 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.