For a photo of Kevin Martinez
Kevin Martinez – a business and community leader with 18 years of experience developing and executing corporate community affairs programs for Fortune 100 companies – has joined ESPN as senior director, corporate outreach. He will be responsible for ESPN’s global volunteerism efforts and cause-marketing projects, and will also serve on the corporate giving committee. Based at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn., Martinez will report to Rosa Gatti, ESPN senior vice president, communications counsel and corporate outreach.
“I’m thrilled Kevin is joining the ESPN team with his extensive leadership experience in corporate outreach programs for major brands,” said Gatti. “His strategic plans have led to great results and numerous awards. I look forward to working with Kevin on ESPN’s many outreach initiatives.”
Martinez joins ESPN from KPMG in New York where he had served as executive director, corporate social responsibility (CSR), since 2008. While there, he chaired the firm’s newly established CSR council, responsible for establishing a national CSR strategy and creating a corporate responsibility plan that integrates philanthropy, the KPMG Foundation, volunteerism, pro bono projects, sustainability, and US – support of global development initiatives supporting Millennium Development Goals.
Previously, Martinez worked at The Home Depot Co. in Atlanta from 2004 – 2007, ultimately being promoted to President, The Home Depot Foundation. In that role, he led the 20-member North American community affairs team and developed and managed global giving strategies that included Canada, Mexico, and China. He developed strategies to position the Foundation as a leader in affordable, sustainable housing and partnered with The Home Depot in establishing giving goals, including a ten-year/$100 million distribution toward sustainable-built housing stock.
From 2001 – 2004, Martinez worked for the Starbucks Coffee Co. in Seattle as senior manager, community affairs, and from 1999 – 2001 he was manager, national community and civic affairs for Eddie Bauer Co., also in Seattle. From 1996 – 1999, he was director, community relations, in the King County (Wash.) Executive’s Office, and from 1993 – 1996 was executive director of the Seattle Aquarium Society. In 1988, Martinez was hired as the assistant director of marketing programs for the Seattle organizing committee of the 1990 Goodwill Games.
Martinez and his team had received numerous awards including The Cause Marketing Forum’s highest award “The Halo Award” twice; the US Chamber’s Award for Corporate Citizenship; and the 2006 Large Corporation of the Year Award from the Corporation for National Community Service and Points of Light Institute in recognition of The Home Depot’s disaster relief and rebuilding efforts.
A native of Hawaii, Martinez was graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor of arts in communication and advertising. He continues to serve his community by sitting on the boards of the 9-11 Flag and The Association of Corporate Contribution Professionals, and he is a member of the Ethics and Compliance Committee for USA Gymnastics.
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