James W. Keyes

James W. Keyes is recognized as a transformational business leader in the retail and entertainment industries, having served as president and chief executive officer of two Fortune 500 companies: 7-Eleven Inc. and Blockbuster Inc. Keyes graduated cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Keyes began his career at Gulf Oil before joining CITGO Petroleum, then a subsidiary of 7-Eleven Inc., where he held positions including chief financial officer, executive vice president, and chief operating officer. He was later named president and CEO of 7-Eleven Inc.

During his tenure at 7-Eleven, Keyes introduced new products such as taquitos, aluminum beer bottles, prepaid phone cards, and the V-Com ATM. He implemented retail systems technology to improve ordering, product assortment, production, and transportation across all stores, resulting in consecutive quarters of improved same-store sales and significant equity value growth. Keyes also led the company's rebranding from The Southland Corporation to 7-Eleven Inc. and managed its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, overseeing more than 40,000 corporate, franchise, and licensed stores in 19 countries. He was inducted into the Convenience Store Industry Hall of Fame for his leadership.

Keyes served as chairman and chief executive officer of Blockbuster Inc., where he facilitated the acquisition of Movielink, a streaming video service, to enhance the company's competitiveness in the digital entertainment sector. Under his leadership, Blockbuster's EBITDA doubled, the company acquired a streaming platform, and received a credit upgrade from Moody's. However, the financial crisis and significant debt led Keyes to restructure the company in bankruptcy and facilitate its sale to Dish Network.

Keyes is chairman of Key Development LLC, an investment group focused on growth in diverse business sectors, including technology initiatives, space startups, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality projects.

In addition to his business roles, Keyes is an advocate for education and social change. He partnered with other CEOs to create the Education is Freedom Foundation, which launched at Radio City Music Hall. He is the founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and founder of the nonprofit Education is Freedom, a nationally recognized provider of college, career, and life-readiness programs that has raised substantial funding for fellowships and scholarships. His book, "Education is Freedom," explores the role of education in unlocking opportunities and emphasizes lifelong learning as essential for personal and professional development.

Keyes has received honors including the Horatio Alger Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award. His philanthropic involvement includes serving on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, acting as former chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and serving on the boards of UT Southwestern Medical School, The Cooper Institute, Dallas Performing Arts Center, SMU Cox School of Business, and Columbia Business School. As a speaker and thought leader, Keyes shares insights on leadership, resilience, and the impact of education on business and society.