Phoenix, Arizona, United States, April 2025 – Kali Franklin has stepped into a new role as Head of People & Culture at the Phoenix Suns, one of the most iconic franchises in the NBA. With a passion for leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational transformation, Kali brings over two decades of rich HR experience across the sports, entertainment, and corporate sectors.
Prior to joining the Phoenix Suns, Kali served as Vice President, Human Resources at On Location, where she helped shape exceptional live event experiences through innovative HR strategies and stakeholder management. During this time, she also led her own consultancy, McCoy Management Group, delivering impactful solutions in leadership coaching, DEI, and strategic human capital development.
Earlier, Kali held multiple leadership positions at Overtime, including SVP, Head of Talent & Recruiting and VP, Head of Civic Engagement, where she was instrumental in building people-first cultures in high-growth environments. She also served as Vice President, Human Resources at New York City FC, leading comprehensive HR initiatives for the Major League Soccer team.
Her prior roles include serving as Director of HR Operations at AMB Sports & Entertainment, Director of Human Resources at First Data Corporation, and Senior HR Manager at Microsoft, where she led multi-unit HR strategies across several U.S. markets. Kali began her HR journey with key roles at Target, Franklin & Wilson Airport Concessions, and CK Franklin LLC, where she built her foundation in workforce strategy and operations leadership.
About Phoenix Suns
Founded in 1968, the Phoenix Suns are the oldest professional sports franchise in Arizona and a cornerstone of the NBA’s Western Conference, Pacific Division. Known for their passionate fanbase and dynamic on-court performance, the Suns continue to be a driving force in professional basketball. The organization is committed to creating a people-first culture, and with a growing focus on innovation, inclusion, and excellence, they continue to lead both on and off the court.
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