The National Basketball Association’s chief diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officer Lesley Slaton Brown is stepping down from her role, according to an internal email obtained by ADWEEK.
Per an email sent April 2 to all NBA staff, Brown informed the league that she plans to leave the post and relocate back to the West Coast at the end of the current season in June.
According to a source familiar with the departure, the chief DEI officer role will be backfilled. “The values of diversity and inclusion are central to the culture of the NBA, WNBA, and our other leagues and will remain core to our business and our workplace,” the email said.
Brown’s team will also remain part of the NBA’s Social Responsibility and Player Programs Department.
“We are grateful for Lesley’s many contributions, including working directly with our teams and colleagues at the league office on a number of initiatives to foster a more inclusive workplace and drive our business forward,” read the email.
The NBA didn’t provide a statement in time for publication.
Brown joined the NBA as chief DEI officer in 2023. During her tenure, she worked with the league’s chief people officer Sabrina Ellis and the teams’ diversity and inclusion leaders to implement and advance DEI processes like recruiting diverse talent and developing employee resource programs.
Before the NBA, Brown served as chief DEI officer at HP since 2015, where she helped develop the company’s [long-term DEI goals and strategy](https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/press-releases/2021/hp-shares-ambitious-2030-goals-to-drive-DEI-in-tech-industry.html). She also led inclusive talent acquisition programs and partnerships and developed training and education for HP leaders and hiring managers globally.
Brown joins a growing list of chief DEI officers at brands and agencies who have left in recent years.
Brands like Chipotle, Nordstrom, Boeing, and NPR have all seen their DEI leads exit, while companies like Publicis Groupe, PepsiCo, AT&T, and Yelp have either pivoted or gotten rid of the role altogether.