Cox Enterprises names Juliette Pryor to lead legal function

Juliette Pryor, 51, has been named senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Cox Enterprises. Pryor reports to Cox Enterprises Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dallas Clement and succeeds Shauna Muhl who will retire from Cox at year end.

In her new role, Pryor is responsible for leading Cox's legal function, as well as serving as corporate secretary supporting the company's Board of Directors. She is also responsible for being a strategic legal adviser to the senior leadership team, focusing on the most important legal and business strategies and issues facing the organization.

"Juliette comes to us at a critical time in our growth trajectory and will serve as a key strategic partner as we focus on growth at Cox," said Clement. "With a wide range of public and private corporate legal experience, she is a highly accomplished and experienced general counsel who has been integral to critical and often, transformative corporate transactions. I look forward to working closely with her as we build on a strong foundation to ensure our company's future success."

Before joining Cox, Pryor served as executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer for US Foods where she was responsible for all legal, risk management and ethics and compliance functions since 2005. Prior to that, she was in private practice with the law firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.

Before joining Skadden, Pryor was general counsel and corporate secretary for e.spire Communications, Inc., a publicly-traded telecommunications company. Earlier in her career, she served as legal adviser to the vice chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission and as in-house counsel with IBM Corporation.

Pryor earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a master's of science degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She also holds a bachelor's of arts degree from Fisk University. Pryor is a member of The Chicago Network and served on Governor Patrick J. Quinn's Women's Advisory Council.  She is a member of the law advisory board of Georgetown University Law Center, and previously served as a board member of the Greater Chicago Area American Red Cross, and La Rabida Children's Hospital.  A fluent Portuguese speaker and longtime enthusiast for all things Brazilian, Pryor is a founding board member of Levantamos: The Center for Afro-Brazilian-American Cooperation.

"I am excited to join the Cox family, and to be a part of this dynamic and innovative company focused on long-term growth and serving customers with great technology, products and services," said Pryor. "I look forward to working with the senior leadership team as we think strategically about the opportunities ahead, while also being a responsible, ethical corporate citizen."

After an impressive 22-year career at Cox, the past seven serving as leader of Cox's legal team and corporate secretary, Muhl will retire from the company at the end of the year. 

During that time, Muhl led multiple change initiatives, which significantly improved the effectiveness of the company's legal function and focused on proactive legal risk management, including developing a Litigation Center of Excellence and a Legal Business Management team.

"Shauna leaves an indelible mark on Cox's legal function, and I am truly grateful to her for contributions over the past two decades," said Clement.  "I wish her the very best in her retirement."

"Cox is a very special company, and I thank our leadership and especially the Cox family for creating an environment where we can compete hard and win in our markets, while being inspired to act with integrity and always do the right thing by our employees, customers and communities," said Muhl. "I have seen again and again the positive impact of this culture in my life and in the lives of my colleagues and am deeply grateful for my time with Cox."