ADE Board Member

Harold Henderson     Board Member

Harold R. Henderson served as NFL Executive Vice President for Labor Relations and Chairman of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee for sixteen years. In that capacity, he had responsibility for all aspects of the League's player and labor relations, with a legal and professional staff of 44 reporting to him. Recently Mr. Henderson, now Executive Vice President for Player Development; has focused on Player Development programs, drug, alcohol, steroid and conduct policies; and benefits for current and former players.

Mr. Henderson made an immediate impact on NFL operations after joining the League in May 1991. He guided the creation of NFL Player Programs, a new branch of the League office designated to provide assistance to players in financial planning and money management, continuing education, post-football career business opportunities and counseling. Recently he initiated special programs at Harvard Business School and Wharton School of Business providing entrepreneurial preparation for NFL players and a “Broadcast Boot Camp” for training in broadcasting skills. He led the League's negotiation team, which settled several lawsuits by NFL players and ultimately entered into a new collective bargaining agreement which includes expanded free agency and a salary cap. That agreement has been extended several times, most recently through 2012. He regularly deals with NFL team owners, team executives, players, players’ union, player agents and attorneys on a variety of matters.

Mr. Henderson previously served as Vice President - Law for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) in Washington. He served on the five-member Management Committee that sets policy for the 24,000 employee corporation. After joining Amtrak in 1980, Mr. Henderson initially served in key labor relations positions. Later, he served as General Counsel, and in 1985, was appointed to the position of Vice President - Law. Prior to joining Amtrak in 1980, Mr. Henderson was a labor attorney at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, a Washington, DC law firm.

Mr. Henderson received a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and is a graduate of the Harvard Law School. In 1988, he completed the Senior Executive Program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Mr. Henderson is a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Member, Board of Trustees of the National Urban League, and former member of the Board of Directors of Children’s Hospital National Medical Center (Washington, DC). He was the Traphagen Distinguished Alumni Speaker at Harvard Law School, Henry Kaiser Speaker at Georgetown Law School, and has been recognized for his work by the National Bar Association, Operation PUSH/Rainbow Sports Coalition and many other professional and community organizations. He has regularly appeared as a guest lecturer at Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, Georgetown Law Center and Columbia Business School.