Ken May

Last updated
Kenneth A. May
Born
Memphis, TN, USA
Other namesKen May
Education Master of Business Administration
Alma mater
Employers
Title Chief Executive Officer,
    Topgolf International, Inc.
Board member of March of Dimes Trustees
   (chairman)

Kenneth A. May is the former CEO of FedEx Office, and chairman of the March of Dimes' board of trustees. In November 2011, he was appointed president of Krispy Kreme, and later in July 2014, May became President and CEO of Topgolf International, Inc. In November 2018, May joined golf entertainment company, Drive Shack Inc. as CEO. He is currently CEO of JumpShot.

Contents

Early life and education

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, May attended Harding Academy there. [1] A graduate of the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee, May holds a master's degree in business administration from the latter. [2]

Philanthropy

Ken May is a strong and effective volunteer leader for our mission, especially our Prematurity Campaign. [...] We look forward to Ken's leadership as we work towards our goal of giving every baby a healthy start in life.

Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes [2]

May has a daughter Alexa, who was born 12 weeks prematurely. The 2-pound (0.91 kg) baby was kept in a neonatal intensive care unit for three months. May credits March of Dimes research with his daughter's survival. [2] He became a volunteer, and was elected to their national board in 2004. He chaired their annual WalkAmerica fundraiser in Dallas in 2006, and was elected chairman of the board of trustees on June 18, 2007. [2]

Career

UPS

May began his career as a part-time supervisor at the United Parcel Service (UPS) and worked there for three years but had no intention of becoming a UPS truck driver — a prerequisite for full-time work with the company — given his college degree. [3]

FedEx

In 1982 he interviewed with FedEx's Memphis hub and became a night-shift supervisor. He shipped 162,000 packages his first day.[ importance? ] [3] He never intended to stay with the company, expecting to only be there six months. [3] He received a total of 13 promotions, becoming senior vice president of the domestic ground operations division of FedEx Express (where he managed 60,000 employees and oversaw all US operations), as well as senior vice president of their air-ground and freight services division. [4]

Kinko's

In 2002, Kinko's CEO Gary Kusin tried to hire May to become his chief operating officer, an offer the latter declined. [3] May would become the CEO of the faltering company in January 2006, after FedEx bought the chain of stores in 2004. [4] During his two-year tenure, May experimented with the chain's formula: changing stores' sizes, formats, and merchandise, as well as implementing "a kind of hub-and-spoke system [where] one large store would handle big print jobs for surrounding small ones." [5] When May took the reins of FedEx Kinko's, the 22,000-employee company had a turnover rate of 80 percent; two years later, in January 2008, turnover was down to 18 percent, and complaints had fallen by 65 percent. [6]

I had a worker come tell me six years later that he still remembered that I sent a note to him when his father died and how much it meant, [...] He told me his own manager didn't take time to do anything more than authorize his bereavement pay.

May, speaking at a leadership seminar (Memphis, 2008) [6]

May described his style as "based on being courageous enough to be bold", which included admitting mistakes and caring about people. Priding himself on his personable relationships with the chain's employees, May wrote upwards of 25–50 notes a week congratulating employees on birthdays, promotions, new babies, and achievements. [6]

In early 2006, May was the subject of a Time article titled "People to Watch In International Business" in which author Jeremy Caplan opined that the 45-year-old May "won't reprint his résumé anytime soon." [7] Kenneth May resigned as CEO of FedEx Office effective March 31, 2008 after a falling out with the corporation over future strategy of the copy chain; replacing May was his COO, Brian Philips. [8] [9] After the announcement, FedEx shares fell $1.77, or about 2 percent. [8]

Krispy Kreme

On 28 November 2011, May became president of Krispy Kreme. [10]

Topgolf

In July 2013, May joined Topgolf as its chief operating officer. In July 2014, he was promoted to president and chief executive officer. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FedEx</span> American freight and package delivery company

FedEx Corporation, originally known as Federal Express Corporation, is an American multinational conglomerate holding company specializing in transportation, e-commerce, and business services. The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The name "FedEx" is a syllabic abbreviation of its original air division, Federal Express, which operated under this name from 1973 until 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krispy Kreme</span> American global doughnut company and coffee house chain

Krispy Kreme, Inc. is an American multinational doughnut company and coffeehouse chain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheerwine</span> Cherry-flavored soft drink

Cheerwine is a cherry-flavored soft drink by Carolina Beverage Corporation of Salisbury, North Carolina. It has been produced since 1917, claiming to be "the oldest continuing soft drink company still operated by the same family".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick W. Smith</span> American business magnate, Founder of FedEx

Frederick Wallace Smith is an American business magnate and investor. He is the founder and chairman of FedEx Corporation, the world's largest transportation company. Smith stepped down as CEO in June 2022 and was succeeded by Raj Subramaniam. He is considered one of the most successful transportation entrepreneurs in the world. He had an estimated net worth of $5.3 billion as of June 2023.

Scott Livengood is the owner and chief executive officer of Dewey’s Bakery, Inc., which was founded in 1930 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The company owns two brands, Salem Baking Company (SBC) and Dewey's Bakery. Salem Baking Company is a specialty cookie and cracker brand and a private brand manufacturer. Dewey's Bakery is a retail bakery located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, operating a high volume production/retail location and a satellite store. Dewey's Bakery specializes in traditional iced and fondant layers cakes, sheet cakes, cupcakes, cake squares, cake pops, cheesecakes, "cookie cakes", "brownie cakes", and "ice cream cakes and pies".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callaway Golf Company</span> American consumer products company

Callaway, legally Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp., is an American global sports equipment manufacturing company that designs, manufactures, markets and sells golf equipment, more specifically clubs and balls, also including accessories such as bags, gloves, and caps. In 2021, the company purchased Topgolf, and thus also operates a chain of golf-related amusement and events centers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon Rudolph</span> American businessman and the founder of Krispy Kreme

Vernon Carver Rudolph was an American businessman who founded Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.

Paul J. Orfalea is an American businessman who founded the copy-chain Kinko's.

Michael H. Sutton is a director of Krispy Kreme Corporation. Sutton was the Chief Accountant of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from 1995 to 1998, and a director of American International Group from 2005 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred's</span> Defunct American regional retail store chain

Fred's Inc. was a retail store chain headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, operating in 15 states in the southeastern United States. As of June, 2019 Fred's operated 396 locations, of which 155 were pharmacies, and the remainder discount general merchandise stores. In July 2019 Fred's announced 129 pending store closures, following which it would have 80 retail stores and 166 pharmacies remaining. This followed earlier store closing announcements in April and June 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krispy Kreme Challenge</span> Annual charity event

The Krispy Kreme Challenge is an annual charity event in which participants run a 2.5-mile (4 km) road course leading to a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop, eat one dozen doughnuts, and run the 2.5-mile (4 km) back to the finish line in under 1 hour. The event began in 2004 and is still planned and executed by Park Scholars at North Carolina State University in Raleigh N.C. Profits from the race are donated to North Carolina Children's Hospital, and the 2023 race brought total donations to over $2.1 million. The Krispy Kreme Challenge is not affiliated with the Krispy Kreme company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krispy Kreme operations by country</span>

Krispy Kreme is an American multinational coffeehouse chain that specializes in doughnuts. As of 2024 it operates in 36 countries worldwide.

Located on the Mississippi River, the metropolitan area of Memphis is one of the largest in the Southeastern United States, ranking 42nd in the United States according to the 2010 census. The city has historically been one of the largest shipping hubs in the Mid-South, dating back to the Civil War, when the port was one of the largest on the Mississippi River and served as a shipping hub for the Confederacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FedEx Office</span> American office retail chain

FedEx Office Print & Ship Services Inc. is an American retail chain that provides an outlet for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping, as well as copying, printing, marketing, office services and shipping. While FedEx, to the Kinko's founder's dismay, dropped the Kinko's name in summer 2008, the name remains in use. Unlike its main competitor, The UPS Store, which is franchised, all FedEx Office stores are corporate-owned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Deno</span>

Dave Deno is an American businessman and entrepreneur who had served as COO of Yum! Brands, Inc. and as the president of Quiznos. He was appointed as CEO of Bloomin' Brands and a member of its Board of Directors in April 2019 after serving as the company's CFO and CAO since November 2013. After five years in service, he retired in May 2024, although he still operates as an independent director in Krispy Kreme, Inc. as of June 2024, a position he has held since 2016.

The 2009–10 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Memphis in the 2009–10 college basketball season, the 89th season of Tiger basketball. The Tigers were coached by first-year head coach Josh Pastner, played their home games at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee and are members of Conference USA. They finished the season 24–10, 13–3 in C-USA play. They were the 2 seed in the 2010 Conference USA men's basketball tournament where they were upset by 7 seed and eventual champion Houston. They failed to be invited to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Instead, the Tigers were invited to the 2010 National Invitation Tournament where they advanced to the second round before losing to the Ole Miss Rebels.

William Lewis Rudolph was an American businessman who helped to co-found the Krispy Kreme doughnut company with his brother, Vernon Rudolph, during the 1930s. He also helped open the first Krispy Kreme in Nashville, Tennessee. Lewis Rudolph later served as Vice President of Krispy Kreme, while Vernon Rudolph served as president and CEO of the company.

C. Stephen Lynn is an American businessman and philanthropist from Tennessee. He spent the bulk of his career in the fast food industry, serving as the chairman and CEO of the Sonic Corporation from 1983 to 1995, chairman and CEO of Shoney's from 1995 to 1998, and CEO of Back Yard Burgers from 2007 to 2010. Lynn currently serves as CEO of GGR Enterprises, a motorsports marketing enterprises headquarter in North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Smith (American football, born 1982)</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

Arthur William Smith is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021 to 2023 and as an assistant coach for the Tennessee Titans during the 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raj Subramaniam</span> Indian-American businessman (born 1967)

Rajesh Subramaniam is the CEO and President of the FedEx Corporation. Prior to this position, he held many organizational management and marketing roles in Asia and the US at FedEx.

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, Jane (2007-02-21). "FedEx Kinko's chief spreads passion for work". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ken May, CEO of FedEx Kinko's, Named Chairman of the Board of Trustees of March of Dimes Foundation" (Press release). March of Dimes. 2007-06-18. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Boyle, Matthew (2007-01-18). "Kinko's chief: 'Willing to take short-term pain'". Fortune . New York City, New York, USA: CNNMoney.com. ISSN   0015-8259. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-02-28. The FedEx-Kinko's merger has been a disappointment. But FedEx Kinko's CEO Ken May tells Fortune's Matthew Boyle that the company is back on the right track.
  4. 1 2 Roberts, Jane (2008-03-08). "FedEx Kinko's CEO steps down". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Archived from the original on March 12, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-28. Memphian Ken May took helm of faltering chain in '06
  5. ↑ Deutsch, Claudia H. (2007-05-05). "Paper Jam at FedEx Kinko's". The New York Times . Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  6. 1 2 3 Roberts, Jane (2008-01-09). "FedEx Kinko's CEO mixes boldness, humanity". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  7. ↑ Caplan, Jeremy (2006-01-22). "People to Watch In International Business". TIME . United States: Time Warner. ISSN   0040-781X.
  8. 1 2 Hunt, Katherine (2008-03-07). "FedEx says Ken May resigns as president and CEO of FedEx Kinko's unit". Forbes . New York City, New York, USA. AFX News Limited . Retrieved 2009-02-28.[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ Roberts, Jane (2008-06-03). "FedEx drops Kinko's name". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Retrieved 2009-02-28. 'FedEx Office' title proves expensive
  10. ↑ Marcella Veneziale (28 November 2011). "Krispy Kreme names Kenneth May president, COO". National Restaurant News.
  11. ↑ "Ken May - Topgolf". topgolf.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-29.
Preceded by CEO of FedEx Office
2006–2008		Succeeded by
Brian Philips
Preceded by Chairman of the March of Dimes' Board of Trustees
2007–current		Succeeded by
Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.