Interesting press release just came out of the Park Avenue offices: Major League Baseball has retained executive search firm Korn Ferry “to provide a number of support services for qualified candidates to assist in their interview preparations for key baseball operations positions.” The release said that “Korn Ferry will give special emphasis to the preparation of minority and female candidates.”
The firm will help candidates develop their résumés and interview skills and will present materials to teams prior to their choosing candidates for general manager, field manager, assistant general manager, scouting director and player development director jobs.
Manfred said “Korn Ferry will broaden the resources available to candidates for key positions in our game. We are proudly a sport of inclusion, and we must continue to pursue and develop more opportunities for minorities and women throughout our game, both in senior and entry-level positions. Our policy on this vital issue will ensure that active searches of outside candidates for leadership positions will include strong minority and female representation.”
This is pretty neat. And quite clearly a step beyond the rather empty requirements of the so-called “Selig Rule” that directs teams to “consider” minority candidates for manager and other positions. Here’s hoping this helps increase the representation of women and minorities in baseball leadership positions.