Early Life and Business Career
William Edward Haslam was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 23, 1958. He is the son of Jim Haslam, the founder of Pilot Corporation, a major operator of travel centers and convenience stores. Haslam attended the Webb School of Knoxville and later Emory University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1980.
Haslam began his career at Pilot Corporation, where he eventually became president in the 1990s. He left Pilot briefly to serve as the CEO of the e-commerce and cataloging division at Saks Fifth Avenue from 1999 to 2001. He later became a consultant at Saks and served on the board of directors at Harold's Stores, Inc..
Political Career
In 2003, Haslam was elected Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, and was re-elected in 2007, serving until 2011. During his tenure as mayor, he balanced eight city budgets, tripled the Rainy Day Fund, and focused on efficient city services. In 2010, Haslam was elected as the 49th Governor of Tennessee and was re-elected in 2014, with the largest victory margin in modern Tennessee history. During his time as governor, Tennessee saw improvements in education, economic development, and fiscal strength. The state also became the first to offer free community college or technical school for all its citizens.
Post-Governorship and Current Activities
Since leaving office in 2019, Haslam has remained active in local and national issues. He has been involved with the Wilson Center and serves on the board of directors for Teach for America and the Young Life board. In 2019, he became a visiting professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. In July 2025, Haslam acquired the majority stake of the Nashville Predators NHL franchise.
Philanthropy
Bill and Crissy Haslam are involved in philanthropy through the Bill and Crissy Haslam Foundation, focusing on education initiatives.
