Cox Names Karen Bennett SVP/Chief HR Officer

Karen Bennett

Cox Media Group (CMG) has named Karen Bennett as its new Senior VP & Chief HR Officer, effective Nov. 9, 2015.  She succeeds Deborah Thomas, who is retiring from the company after more than 12 years.

Bennett previously served as Sr. VP and Chief HR Officer for YP (formerly AT&T Ad Solutions), the ninth-largest digital media company in the United States. She is a business executive with 25 years of Human Resources success at Fortune 500 companies as an architect of human capital strategy and executional plans in all areas of HR.

“Karen will continue the amazing momentum Deborah Thomas and her team began more than five years ago, when CMG integrated our award-winning broadcast, print and digital media brands, and she will take us to the next level,” said CMG President Bill Hoffman.

“She has the background, style, and competitive juices to be a perfect fit on our executive team. Deborah Thomas was a special teammate. She was smart, strategic, and cared so much for our media businesses. Karen will carry on that tradition of strong HR leadership and business partnership.”

Bennett said, "I am thrilled to join Cox Media Group. As an Atlanta native, I have always admired the Cox family of brands and the culture fostered with its employees.” She added, “I look forward to helping the company win with its people in this changing media landscape."

Prior to joining YP in 2013, Bennett was Sr. VP of Human Resources for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., for almost 14 years.