Kimberly Ayers Shariff

Kimberly Ayers Shariff was appointed Executive Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Penguin Random House U.S. in May 2021, when she also became a member of the Penguin Random House U.S. Board. In this role, Kimberly leads Penguin Random House’s implementation of its companywide DE&I Strategic Plan and will help develop a broad-based vision for the company’s future ensuring the creation of books for everyone, by everyone, out of a culture where all feel welcome and empowered to fully participate in the process.

Kimberly spent more than half her career in the non-profit sector as Chief Administrative Officer at American Ballet Theatre, and Deputy General Counsel at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Kim began her career at Black Entertainment Television. While there, she had the opportunity to work on the legal aspects of BET’s merger with Viacom and was tapped to establish the business and legal affairs functions for the company’s post-merger New York City location.

With over 20 years of legal and operational experience in the arts and entertainment industry, Kimberly has honed her skills as a subject matter specialist in legal and business affairs, inclusion strategy, human resources, as well as non-profit management. She has been described as having a keen ability to analyze the existing infrastructure of complex organizations, and then implement strategy to enhance inclusive culture, operational efficiency, channels of communication and risk management without sacrificing culture, artistic integrity or entrepreneurial spirit.

Kimberly attended Georgetown University where she earned a B.A. in Sociology as well as a Certificate of African Studies from the School of Foreign Service. She also holds a law degree from Tulane University School of Law.