Fred J. Keeton

Fred Keeton is owner and Principal at Keeton Iconoclast Consulting, LLC.  The firm offers expertise in executive leadership development, cognitive and economic Inclusion, government and public affairs.  As Chief Iconoclast, Keeton helps organizations and executives create the capacity to effectively challenge their own thinking and in the process evolve leadership to new and advanced levels.  An “Iconoclast” effectively confronts where tradition, convenience, and personal preference have been substituted for authentic business requirements.

Keeton enjoyed a highly successful 30 plus year career at Caesars Entertainment, the largest and most geographically dispersed casino gaming, hospitality, and entertainment company.  He served as Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer in his last role at Caesars.  In  that role,  he  oversaw  operationalizing  diversity  and  inclusion  in innovation  and  continuous  improvement, economic inclusion-Supplier  Sourcing,  Community  Reinvestment,  Design  and  Construction,  Marketing, and Human  Resources,.  Keeton led  Caesars senior  executive  team  on issues  pertaining  to  reputation-management,  government  relations  diversity  and inclusion  awareness,  and  driving business  outcomes  through  operationalizing Diverse  By  Design (DbyD) Project Teams.

Keeton  is  widely  respected  for  his  knowledge  and  business  acumen  and  is  a  noted  and  sought  after speaker.  Keeton  articulates  the  requirement  for  inclusion  driven  business  enhancement  and  provides passionate  leadership.  Fred's  veteran  business  and  corporate  relations  experience  allows  him  to effectively  address  dynamic  and  highly  challenging issues  in  our  ever-changing  political,  social and economic environment. In  1975,  he entered  Jackson  State  University  in  Jackson,  Mississippi  working  toward  a Bachelor’s  of Science  degree  in  political  science,  concurrently  working  full-time  for  Allstate  insurance  company  to pay  for  school. 

Keeton’s career has taken him from insurance company roles of customer records representative, claims adjuster, and licensed insurance broker/agent to self-insured risk management roles at Caesars including Assistant Claims Manager, Senior Manager Claims, and Corporate Director of Claims Management.  Keeton then took a lead role in the development of new casino gaming jurisdictions as Director of State Government Affairs, Vice President of Business Affairs at Harrah’s New Orleans, and Division Vice President Government Affairs.   Finally Keeton was promoted to Corporate Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer overseeing the external affairs and inclusion function worldwide.

Throughout  Keeton’s  tenure,  he  has  developed  relationships  with  key business leaders, government officials, along with community  and  philanthropic  leaders.  Fred  served as Co-Chair of the  American  Gaming Association’s  Diversity  Task  Force,  on the  governing  board  of the  National Minority  Supplier Development Council  (NMSDC), and the board of trustees for Harvard Medical School’s Joslin Diabetes Research Center all while continuing to  take  a  national  leadership  role  in  our  country’s  quest  for continued world leadership and full inclusion.