NEW YORK, USA // Paul Beckles is an award-winning marketing and business executive operating at the intersection of sports, culture, media, and commerce. With more than 15 years of experience, Paul is known for building brands, scaling platforms, and leading high-performing teams that drive both cultural relevance and commercial growth across global markets. Paul currently serves as Vice President & General Manager of Boardroom, the media and membership platform founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman. In this role, he oversees the end-to-end business including strategy, content, membership, growth, and operations. As GM, Paul is responsible for driving the long-term vision and leading day-to-day execution—aligning culture, creativity, and commercial rigor to scale Boardroom into a multi-vertical media company spanning content, events, IP, and community.

Prior to Boardroom, Paul spent over six years at Nike, Inc., where he held senior leadership roles across brand marketing, athlete marketing, and global partnerships. He joined Nike as Head of Global Brand Marketing for Converse Basketball, leading the successful relaunch of the brand in basketball after nearly a decade away from the sport. He later led marketing for Nike’s NBA and WNBA licensed businesses globally and played a key role in the brand’s first-ever NIL basketball partnerships. As a senior leader within Nike’s Global Athlete Marketing organization and later as Head of Men’s Brand Marketing for Nike’s New York Headquarters, Paul led city-driven brand strategy across basketball, lifestyle, and key men’s business categories overseeing integrated marketing, storytelling, and cross-functional execution in one of Nike’s most influential markets. Earlier in his career, Paul built a foundation across professional sports, talent representation, and creative agencies, shaping his ability to bridge brand, athlete, and business strategy in high-growth, high-pressure environments.

Paul earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and completed executive education at Harvard Business School’s Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports Program. He has been recognized as a “Marketer to Watch” by Marketers That Matter, featured in The Wall Street Journal, and named a 2024 honoree of the Black Sports Business Conference for his impact on the industry. Beyond his professional work, Paul is deeply committed to mentorship, education, and cultural legacy. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Black Sports Business Academy, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to expanding access and career pathways for HBCU students pursuing sports and entertainment careers, and on the Board of the Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute, supporting the preservation and advancement of Shirley Chisholm’s enduring legacy.