Derrick Hall

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For the Irish cricketer of the same name see Derrick Hall (cricketer)

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Derrick Hall was named President of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 6, 2006, officially taking the day-to-day lead of the organization after having served as Executive Vice President; Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications; and Senior Vice President, Communications since joining the team on May 23, 2005.

Immediately after being named President, Hall developed a “Circle of Success” mission statement with his executive management team to begin concentrating on five important areas heading into the 2007 season; Fan Experience, Performance, Community, Culture and Financial Efficiency.

Developing under the O’Malley family ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers as a young executive in the 1990s, Hall learned the value of taking care of the fans. He preaches it to everyone that works for the Diamondbacks and spends valuable hours listening and communicating with season ticket holders. Hall has been invaluable in the community re-establishing relationships with civic leaders as well as meeting with corporate partners to discuss how the Diamondbacks can better grow their business. His exceptional skills in dealing with people has invigorated the D-backs front office and fan base as the organization went through a re-branding process with new colors, logos and uniforms heading into the 2007 season.

Hall quickly established himself since joining the organization two years ago. After he took on various marketing-related responsibilities in December 2005, he put together a marketing partnership with the Gila River Indian Community that became Arizona’s first-ever presenting sponsor for a sports franchise when the team announced all aspects of the organization would be presented by Gila River Casinos beginning in 2006. The multi-million dollar, long-term deal branded the Gila River Indian Community with messages throughout the team’s TV and radio broadcasts as well as with signage throughout Chase Field. Hall also established kid-friendly programs to enhance the family experience and, with the help of Joe Garagiola, Sr., created the “No Chew Crew” to educate children and the public on the harms of chewing tobacco.

Prior to joining the D-backs, Hall made a brief stop as Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications for KB Home, a Fortune 500 company based in Los Angeles, and was responsible for all external communications, public relations, crisis communications and regional and national media efforts. He is credited for increasing the brand awareness of the nation’s fifth-largest homebuilder by seeking and achieving feature coverage in mainstream outlets like Newsweek, BusinessWeek, Time, Life, U.S. News & World Report, Money, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal as well as on television shows such as “Access Hollywood” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

Hall spent parts of 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, joining the organization’s Single-A Florida State League affiliate in Vero Beach, Fla., in 1992 and departing as the club’s Senior Vice President, Communications in 2004. In between, he was a strategic communications specialist that served key roles during three ownership changes with the Dodgers and was recognized for reuniting Fernando Valenzuela with the organization after hiring him as a color analyst for the team’s Spanish radio broadcasts in 2003. Known as an industry-wide specialist in strategic communications, Hall spent a great deal of time on image building, media training, brand promoting, pro-active story pitching and crisis management, and taught a sports public relations class at the University of Southern California. His reputation allowed him to assist other local teams, organizations from other sports, sports agents, and professional athletes with their public relations issues, needs and strategies.

Hall stepped outside of baseball for employment during the 1999 season, first as a member of the media as a host for a three-hour morning talk show on the Dodgers’ flagship station (XTRA 1150 AM) and as host of the “Dodger Game Day” pre-game radio show when the team played at Dodger Stadium. He also had a stint in front of the camera as a fill-in sports anchor at KNBC-TV Channel 4 in Los Angeles.

Hall is also a member of The Thunderbirds, the Phoenix Pride Commission for the City of Phoenix, ad hoc committees for the ASU Alumni Association and ASU Athletic Director, Phoenix Children’s Hospital (strategic marketing committee), United Methodist Outreach Ministries and is the 2006-07 Honorary Chairman for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona’s annual campaign. He is an active member of the Ohio University Sports Administration Alumni Advisory Board, and chairs committees for the purpose of fundraising and development. Hall is very active with charitable organizations by serving on the following Boards; Phoenix Regional Sports Commission, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Phoenix Partnerships, US Airways Education Foundation, Valley of the Sun United Way and United Blood Services.

Hall received a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in broadcasting and journalism and a master’s degree from Ohio University in sports administration. During his undergraduate education at ASU, Derrick served as president of the Sigma Nu Fraturnity. In 2002, he was inducted into the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications Alumni Hall of Fame and was awarded the ASU Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2003. In 2006, Ohio University’s Sports Administration Program awarded Hall as the 25th recipient of the Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus Award.

In 2007, Hall was named the “Father of the Year” for Arizona through the American Diabetes Association and was named to Phoenix Business Journal’s annual “Forty Under 40” list.

Hall and his wife, Amy, reside in Paradise Valley with their children Logan and Hayden.

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