James C. Kennedy

Jim Kennedy is chairman emeritus and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation. He is the grandson of former Ohio Governor and presidential candidate James M. Cox, who founded the company in 1898. Kennedy joined Cox in 1972 as a production assistant with its newspaper division and held various positions, including reporter, copy editor, advertising salesman, business manager and executive vice president/general manager. In 1988, Kennedy was named Cox Enterprises’ chairman and chief executive officer. During his tenure, Cox Enterprises has diversified and grown, increasing in annual revenues from $1.88B to nearly $20B.

Kennedy holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Denver. He was inducted into Georgia State University's J. Mack Robinson College of Business Hall of Fame in 2004 and was bestowed an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Colorado State University in 2018 and from Kennesaw State University in 2003. He frequently appears on Georgia Trend’s Most Influential Georgians list and the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Influential Atlantans list. The Technology Association of Georgia inducted Kennedy into the organization’s Technology Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Georgia Trend Hall of Fame in 2020.

He served on the Atlanta Committee for Progress and was a leading force behind Atlanta’s successful bid to host the Olympic Games in 1996.

He is a philanthropist who supports a number of focus areas, including education, healthcare and sustainability. Kennedy and his wife Sarah were previously recognized as the Philanthropists of the Year by the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals for their many contributions to the community.