Keith Dawkins, who most recently served as Executive Vice President of Nickelodeon, became the organizations’s newest CEO on January 1, following the retirement of Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who had served in the position since 2008. Dawkins will report to the World Golf Foundation Board and The First Tee Advisory Board.
Keith Dawkins, an executive for Viacom’s Nickelodeon, will become The First Tee’s next CEO.
President George W. Bush, The First Tee’s Honorary Chairman, welcomed Dawkins to the position at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J., alongside The First Tee Chairman Tim Finchem, who introduced Keith to the organization’s Trustees during a breakfast meeting. Dawkins replaced Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who was set to retire at the end of 2017.
“The First Tee is a very effective and very necessary program for our nation’s youth and future,” President Bush said. “I’m proud to be the Honorary Chairman and to have worked with Joe Barrow, and I thank him for his leadership over the years. I congratulate Keith Dawkins and look forward to working with him. The First Tee, and thousands of young people, will benefit from his energy and experience.”
“On behalf of the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Keith Dawkins to the world of golf and to The First Tee as its next CEO,” said Mike Whan, LPGA Commissioner and Chairman of the Foundation. “We were unanimous in our decision and believe Keith’s experience, passion and demonstrated leadership will undoubtedly build on the successes that Joe Barrow so thoughtfully achieved.”
Dawkins began his role with The First Tee on October 16, 2017 as incoming CEO, and officially took the reins as CEO upon Barrow’s retirement, January 1, 2018. Dawkins will report to the World Golf Foundation Board and The First Tee Advisory Board.
Dawkins is a 25-year veteran of media and entertainment, most recently serving as Executive Vice President of Nickelodeon. Dawkins led key multi-screen initiatives including NickSplat, targeting adults who love ’90s Nickelodeon, and Nickelodeon Sports. Through Nickelodeon Sports, he helped forge relationships with all major sports leagues to create new, multi-platform content and drive marketing events and initiatives, including an on-site presence at Super Bowl LI in Houston. Dawkins recently led the engagement between the PGA TOUR and Nickelodeon, which resulted in a PGA TOUR-themed weekend on Nickelodeon and an on-site branded kids’ zone at THE PLAYERS Championship.
During his tenure with Viacom, Dawkins served on numerous advisory boards that fostered diversity and inclusion, including the Viacom Office of Global Inclusion Advisory Committee. He joined Viacom in 2000 as a supervising producer for VH1 News, and prior to that, Dawkins was a Fox News Channel producer, where he was part of the network’s original launch team.
“I am excited to be joining The First Tee and look forward to working alongside both Boards and key stakeholders—including chapters—to build upon the success and foundation of the organization,” Dawkins said. “We are currently looking at the largest and most diverse group of kids our country has ever seen, which creates an abundance of future opportunities for golf and The First Tee for years to come.”
Barrow joined The First Tee in 2000 as Vice President and National Director, and he became CEO in 2008. Barrow has advanced the organization from 100 golf facilities open or in development in 2000 to The First Tee programs being delivered at 1,200 golf locations, in more than 9,000 elementary schools and in partnership with more than 1,000 youth serving agencies. He also helped to crystalize The First Tee Nine Core Values, which are now a signature aspect of all programs, ensuring that young people learn not only the game of golf, but the important values associated with it including respect, integrity and judgment.
In recent years, Barrow led The First Tee through an ambitious effort to reach 10 million additional young people between 2011 and 2017, and he built its capacity to reach more than 5 million young people annually through the various programming channels.
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