DeRetta Rhodes

Executive Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer, Atlanta Braves

DeRetta Rhodes, MBA, PhD, is a vision-driven executive who has broad experience in Strategic Planning and Human Resources spanning multiple industries, including professional services, media, financial services, and non-profits. Dr. Rhodes is going into her eighth season with the Braves after arriving in January 2019. She joined the organization as a Senior Vice President of Human Resources before being promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief People Capital Officer, in January 2021. She was elevated to her current role, Executive Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer, in January 2022.

Dr. Rhodes oversees communications, community affairs, and people capital (Human Resources) for the organization’s Major League and The Battery Atlanta operations. She has transformed the people capital department, expanded the culture of the organization with training programs and employee resource groups and created an internal workforce development council. Prior to joining the Braves, Dr. Rhodes was the Executive Vice President/Chief Human Resources Officer of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Vice President of Human Resources at First Data, Vice President of Human Resources for Turner Broadcasting, and held leadership positions at Ernst & Young, ADP, HomeGrocer.com, and YUM Brand.

Dr. Rhodes received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, her master’s in business administration (MBA) from Clark Atlanta University, and her PhD in adult education from the University of Georgia. She is a certified facilitator for HOGAN Assessment and HOGAN 360.

A Kansas City native, Dr. Rhodes, has also served in the Metro Atlanta community in various board member roles and activities. She serves on several boards, such as Executive Board Member of the Atlanta Braves Foundation and Trustee Member, Governing Board Member, and HR & Compensation Chair of the Woodruff Arts Center, to name a few.

Rhodes completed her Ted Talk (TEDxUGA) in 2018 and has been recognized as a 2026 Georgia Titan 100 Hall of Fame, Georgia Titan 100 (2024, 2025), and 2026 Tribute to Women of Achievement (LiveSafe). She was also recognized as a 2025 YWCA Women of Achievement, 2024 Women of Influence by Atlanta Business Chronicle, and 100 Women of Influence (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) by the Atlanta Business League. She is the author of Courage of Voice: Empowering Women to Open Professional Doors.

Dr. Rhodes lives in Atlanta, GA, with her husband, Leon, and her three sons, Cole, Austin, and Jordan.