In Marshall, Mavericks are getting a confident and decisive leader
DALLAS — The Mavericks introduced their new business operations leader on Monday, at the same time discovering a way to keep owner Mark Cuban quiet.
Cynthia Marshall, who logged 36 years helping AT&T become one of the most respected workplaces in America, is the interim chief executive officer of the Mavericks.
She will oversee all nonbasketball operations.
The Mavs introduced her before the Mavs’ 109-103 win over the Indiana Pacers.
When she fulfils obligations remaining on a contract her consulting firm has, the “interim” tag will be removed from her title, Cuban said.
In Marshall, the Mavericks are getting a confident, decisive and charismatic leader who has a strong history of knowing how to run an efficient business with emphasis on diversity and inclusion.
And a huge dose of no-nonsense.
Asked his initial thoughts on the 58-year-old Marshall, coach Rick Carlisle said he had a 15minute meeting with her before Monday’s game against the Pacers and also took her to the locker-room to meet players.
Marshall talked for about 30 minutes to a packed news conference at American Airlines Center. Cuban may have talked for one minute, seated all the while just to the right of Marshall.
She said that in her extensive career, she’s seen more daunting cases than the Mavericks, who are embroiled in controversy after revelations of misconduct in the workplace including sexual harassment and a culture of permissive and enabling behaviour for years. But Marshall also knows this is going to be a high-profile fixer.
And she will be in charge. That much was made clear on Monday.
Asked if this will be a collective effort between her and Cuban, Marshall glanced at Cuban and said: “Let me take that. That ought to give you a clue right there. I’ve got this.”
She then talked about a systematic game plan to get this franchise out of the pit of misery they have sunken into.
When Marshall first heard about the Sports Illustrated story in which the allegations of sexual harassment and the corrosive environment in the business office were exposed, she said she was “disgusted. I was disgusted with the allegations of what had happened in the past. There’s no place for it at all. And you have zero tolerance.”
She talked about a threepronged plan to get the Mavericks ship back in order and curb a sordid culture, if one indeed exists.
“I’m saddened, and I’ll say that again, I’m very saddened that issues of domestic violence and sexual harassment are so prominent in our society and allegations have surfaced once again in our organization,” Marshall said.
“Mark has been transparent, and accountable, in his remarks to the media. But I want you to know that behind the scenes, we are also responding. Although we are in the early stages of our response, we have identified three immediate areas of focus — the investigation, culture transformation and operational effectiveness,” Marshall added.