Keith Barr (businessman)
Keith Barr | |
|---|---|
 Barr in December 2017 | |
| Born | July 16, 1970 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | Cornell University |
| Title | CEO and President, CarMax |
| Term | 2026– |
| Predecessor | William Nash |
Keith Barr (born July 16, 1970)[1] is an American businessman. He currently serves as chief executive officer and president of CarMax, the nation's largest used-car retailer.
Personal life and education
Born in Boston, Barr was educated at Saint Sebastian's School in Needham, Massachusetts, and has a degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity.[1]
In 2023, he spoke at the Questex International Hospitality Investment Forum, telling attendees that he was moving with his family to Kailua, Hawaii, where his wife Diana was born.[2] He and Diana have two daughters: Sophie and Tessa.[3]
Career
Bar held positions at Bristol Hotels and Resorts, until it was acquired in 2000 by IHG Hotels & Resorts in 2000.[4] Barr led IHG from 2017 to 2023 after serving as the company’s chief commercial officer for four years. He also spent four years as CEO of IHG’s Greater China operating division. When Barr left IHG in July 2023, Elie W. Maalouf succeeded him as CEO.[5]
Following his run at IHG, he spent two years at the private equity firm Sixth Street Partners.[4] In a LinkedIn post, Barr said his role at Sixth Street was strategic advisor.[6]
On March 16, 2026, Barr assumed the position of CEO and president of CarMax, which is headquartered in Goochland County, Virginia.[7] When he was hired, the company said it agreed to provide him with temporary housing in the Richmond area.[8]
Awards and Honors
He joined the board of directors of MGM Resorts International in 2024 and has served on the World Travel and Tourism Council, British American Business Council, and the board of Women in Hospitality Travel & Leisure.[9]
Barr is a non-executive director of Yum! Brands and a member of the Dean's Advisory Board for the Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.[10]
In 2024, it was announced that Barr would receive the Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award.[11]
References
- 1 2 Meddings, Sabah (11 March 2018). "Keith Barr: Airbnb? It won't kill off hotels". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ↑ LLC, Questex (2023-05-19). "Fortune Favours the Bold at Questex's IHIF 2023". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ "Hotelie Hall of Fame Inductees – 2025". cornellhotelsociety.com. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- 1 2 "New CarMax CEO Barr looks to tech for better UX | WardsAuto". www.wardsauto.com. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/carmax-taps-former-ihg-chief-keith-barr-ceo-2026-02-12/
- ↑ "I am very excited to join Sixth Street as a Strategic Advisor. I've been incredibly impressed with Sixth Street's leadership team and investment strategy. I'm looking forward to supporting their… | Keith Barr | 180 comments". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ Times-Dispatch, SEAN JONES Richmond (2026-06-21). "New CEO: Goochland-based CarMax is growing again, but the fix isn't finished". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ Schwartz 9, Michael (2026-02-13). "CarMax bets on longtime hotel exec to steer turnaround - Richmond BizSense". Retrieved 2026-07-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Danzis, David (2024-08-21). "MGM Resorts appoints 'globally recognized leader' to board". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ "Yum! Brands Appoints GODIVA CEO Annie Young-Scrivner and InterContinental Hotels Group PLC CEO Keith Barr to Board". investors.yum.com. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ "Global Hospitality Executive Keith Barr to Receive 2024 Cornell Hospitality Icon Award". Hospitality Net. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-03-05.