NBA legend Magic Johnson knows that praise always looks good on the person giving it, too. It’s like an assist in basketball — you don’t get the points personally but your team does. (Magic is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists per game with an average of 11.19 APG.) So when a high profile article on Magic Johnson Enterprises‘ new president was published this week, Magic’s praise for new MJE president Christina Francis was as strong, timely and well-executed as a full court bounce pass to James Worthy during 80s Lakers Showtime. Magic called Francis a “seasoned executive with great advice on the importance of mentoring and advocacy,” a big part of Johnson’s company ethos. But he also personalized his praise, calling Francis “a special person who has been an incredible asset to MJE!”
Amazing article in the LA Times about my new President Christina Francis. Christina is a seasoned executive with great advice on the importance of mentoring and advocacy. She is a special person who has been an incredible asset to MJE! https://t.co/zf9tSt6FFl
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) March 11, 2019
Christina Francis, 50, became President of MJE in January. The impetus for Johnson’s praise was an article in the Los Angeles Times about Francis, who heads up the MJE collection of companies that Johnson began amassing back in 1987 when he was arguably the best basketball player in the world. (Michael Jordan didn’t win his first championship until 1991, folks.) Johnson isn’t alone in thinking Francis is special: the Xavier grad has impressed everyone along her career journey. Francis has risen through stints at Nissan, Walt Disney and Burger King, among others, including a job as Chief Marketing Officer for the Orange Bowl and work with the NFL Players Association. Once again, Magic gets the timely assist, this time Francis gets the score, and the team wins. Notably the top 3 executives listed at MJE are all women: in addition to Francis, there is Kawanna Brown (CEO) and Sheila Ewing (VP Finance).
