Matthew Barnhill

Matthew Barnhill is an award-winning Market Researcher and marketing thought leader. He has nearly 25 years of experience in the industry and has led a number of brands to market leadership positions.

- Founded the Market Research function at BET Networks and developed the largest suite of African American consumer insights that exists today

- Led the Creative Services function at BET, resulting in the network’s first ever Emmy nomination

- Helped launch the largest franchise in cable history among African-Americans – the BET Awards

- Provided research that led CoverGirl cosmetics to become the #1 cosmetics brand

Prior to BET, Matthew worked at Procter & Gamble, where he led global research for CoverGirl Cosmetics and led the Western European Personal Beauty Care Research division. In addition to that, he led P&G’s HBCU recruiting efforts for several campuses.

Matthew Barnhill has a BS degree in Economics from North Carolina A&T State University and an MBA in Marketing from The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University.

Matthew has completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School, The Johns Hopkins University, and UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Matthew served as executive vice-president of Market Research at BET Networks, where his work resulted in a number of accolades, including:

- Named Market Research Executive of The Year by Target Market News

- Cable & Telecommunications Association of Marketing Awards

- National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications Awards

- Several TELLY gold and silver awards

Other achievements:

- Was named one of the most influential minorities in cable television several times

- Member of the Emmy Voting Academy

- Board Member of the Michigan State University Broad School of Business Alumni

- Member of North Carolina A&T State University Board of Visitors