Ken May
Ken May | |
|---|---|
 May in 2024 | |
| Born | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Memphis (B.B.A.) University of Tennessee (M.B.A.) |
| Occupation(s) | Business executive, advisor |
| Known for | Former CEO of Topgolf, FedEx Office, Drive Shack, JumpShot |
Ken May is an American business executive, advisor, and former CEO, known for leading major companies in logistics, hospitality, and sports entertainment. He has served as CEO of Topgolf, FedEx Office, Drive Shack Inc., and JumpShot, and currently serves as an executive advisor and board member across several emerging brands. May is recognized for his ability to scale businesses, foster people-first cultures, and drive innovation across traditional and experiential sectors.
Early life and education
[edit]May earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from the University of Memphis and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee.
Career
[edit]Topgolf (2013–2017)
[edit]May joined Topgolf in August 2013 as COO and was promoted to President & CEO of U.S. venue operations in July 2014. Under his leadership, Topgolf expanded from approximately $70 million to $750 million in annual revenue, opened 24 U.S. venues, and grew its workforce from around 5,000 to over 20,000 employees.[1][2] During this period, D Magazine’s 2016 “My Office” feature highlighted May’s playful and forward-thinking office design—complete with beer taps and glass walls—underscoring the culture change he cultivated at the company.[3] He retired from the company in October 2017.[4]
FedEx (1982–2008)
[edit]Ken May began his career at FedEx in 1982 as a night-shift supervisor, eventually rising through 13 roles over 25 years.[5][6] As Senior Vice President of U.S. Operations, he managed approximately 60,000 employees and a multibillion-dollar budget for U.S. ground services.[7]
Following FedEx’s acquisition of Kinko’s in 2004, May was appointed COO of the combined FedEx Kinko’s unit, leading integration efforts and restructuring store formats.[8] In January 2006, he became President and CEO of FedEx Kinko’s (later renamed FedEx Office), overseeing 22,000 employees, 1,800 locations, and over $2 billion in revenue. Under his leadership, employee turnover fell from 80% to 18% and customer complaints dropped by 65%.[9][10] He resigned as CEO effective March 31, 2008 to focus on family and new professional opportunities.[11]
Krispy Kreme (2011–2012)
[edit]In November 2011, May was appointed President and COO of Krispy Kreme, overseeing global operations across 21 countries and driving $450 million in revenue.[12][13] He launched an innovative “store of the future” concept, which revamped retail layouts and improved unit-level economics.[14]
Drive Shack Inc. (2018–2019)
[edit]In November 2018, May was appointed CEO and President of Drive Shack Inc., bringing extensive sports entertainment experience.[15][16] During his tenure, the company proceeded with divesting traditional golf courses (selling 15 courses for $115 million) and refocused on entertainment-centric venues with interactive golf gameplay, food and beverage, and technology-enabled customer experiences.[17]
JumpShot (2022–2024)
[edit]In May 2023, May was named CEO of JumpShot, a basketball entertainment and analytics company, transitioning from a strategic advisor role he held since 2022.[18][19] He led the development of data-driven fan engagement tools and growth strategies until stepping down in mid-2024.[20]
Philanthropy and nonprofit work
[edit]March of Dimes (2007–2011)
[edit]From 2007 to 2011, May served two consecutive two-year terms as the Chairman of the National Board of Trustees for the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the health of babies and supporting maternal and infant care initiatives.[21]
In this leadership role, May helped steer the national strategic direction of the organization, collaborating with healthcare professionals, researchers, and community leaders to address birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. He played an instrumental role in fundraising and awareness efforts and worked to expand access to maternal healthcare resources across the country.
During his tenure, the March of Dimes emphasized educational outreach and evidence-based support for mothers and families, aligning with May’s broader leadership philosophy of empowering teams and communities to thrive.[22]
In popular culture
[edit]May has frequently been associated with the iconic volleyball "Wilson" from the 2000 film Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks as a FedEx executive stranded on a deserted island. Numerous reports claim that shortly after the film’s release, May acquired one of the original screen-used Wilson volleyball props at auction for approximately $18,500.[23] However, the accuracy of this claim remains unverified, and May has not publicly confirmed ownership of the prop.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ PR Newswire, “Topgolf Leader of U.S. Venues Ken May Announces Retirement,” October 2, 2017.
- ^ CNN Money; Dallas Business Journal, July 16, 2014.
- ^ "My Office: Ken May". D Magazine. November 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ PR Newswire, “Topgolf Leader of U.S. Venues Ken May Announces Retirement,” October 2, 2017.
- ^ CNN Money, “The head of FedEx Kinkos discusses his new strategy,” January 18 2007.
- ^ The Federal Lawyer, “An Interview with Ken May — CEO and Philanthropist,” December 2015.
- ^ Wikipedia: Ken May
- ^ Strategy+Business, “FedEx Delivers on the Deal,” August 28 2006.
- ^ Wikipedia: Ken May
- ^ The Commercial Appeal via Wikipedia
- ^ Post & Parcel, “Ken May resigns as leader of FedEx Kinkos,” March 7 2008.
- ^ Nation’s Restaurant News, “Krispy Kreme names Kenneth May president, COO,” November 28 2011.
- ^ The Federal Lawyer, December 2015.
- ^ The Federal Lawyer, December 2015.
- ^ Drive Shack press release, November 12 2018.
- ^ Drive Shack Q4 2018 Results, December 2018.
- ^ Drive Shack Q4 2018 Results; Business Wire, January 11 2019.
- ^ FoundersIB, “Former Topgolf CEO, Ken May, Joins Brands Y'all 2024 Speaker Circuit,” December 7 2023.
- ^ LinkedIn announcement, May 2023.
- ^ FoundersIB; LinkedIn.
- ^ The Federal Lawyer, “An Interview with Ken May — CEO and Philanthropist,” December 2015.
- ^ The Federal Lawyer, December 2015.
- ^ Del Rey, Jason (November 3, 2022). "Movie Prop Auction Sees 'Wilson' Volleyball Sell for $75,000". Bloomberg. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ Heisler, Steve (March 10, 2022). "What Would Have Happened to Wilson After Cast Away?". MEL Magazine. Retrieved July 17, 2025.