Kei Henderson

KeiSaundra “Kei” Henderson is a Grammy Award-winning music executive, creative entrepreneur, and cultural visionary with more than a decade of experience discovering and developing some of the most impactful artists in contemporary music. Her experience also spans music, publishing, fashion and media.

Kei currently serves as the founder and CEO of Third + Hayden, a creative development agency and incubator disguised as a record label, management and publishing company. The company’s mission is rooted in artist ownership and mental health advocacy, leveraging first deal structures that allow artists to retain 100% ownership of their catalog. Under her leadership, Third + Hayden has forged partnerships with SoundCloud, Live Nation, and The Orchard while building a growing roster of critically acclaimed independent artists spanning folk soul, hip-hop, R&B, and alternative genres.

Third + Hayden management artists include anaiis, Annahstasia, Buddy, Celo Reed, Piranha Head and Thrice Groove. Label artists include April + Vista, Ben Reilly, Zyah Belle, Stoic, and more.

Henderson played an instrumental role in paving the way for 21 Savage’s mainstream success, managing the Grammy-award winning artist from 2015-2019. Under Kei’s strategic guidance, 21 Savage transformed from local champion to global phenomenon in under three years, culminating in the 2019 Grammy Award Win for Best Rap Song honoring "A Lot" featuring J. Cole. Henderson led A&R efforts around the record, connecting 21 Savage’s team with renowned producer, DJ Dahi.

In conjunction with her artist management tenure, in 2017 Henderson also served as Co-Founder and Head of Marketing at SinceThe80’s, a joint venture with Motown and Capitol Music Group.

Kei’s experience is fortified with a deeply diverse range of expertise beyond music. Kei joined lifestyle and streetwear brand 10.Deep Clothing as Marketing Manager in 2012 where she stewarded cultural partnerships with Kid Cudi, Wale, Future, The Migos, Trinidad James, Awful Records, Sango, Makonnen, Cam’ron, Wu-Tang, Timberland, and StudioOne for the brand. Her work at the intersection of street culture, fashion, and music that would come to define her management philosophy.

Kei also served as Complex Media’s first-ever Social Media Director in 2010. Over her three year-tenure, Henderson supported then CEO Rich Antoniello and the executive sales team before playing a vital role in building the blueprint for Complex Media's social voice alongside Editor-In-Chief Noah Callahan-Bever and growing its then newly established social media accounts to the cultural leader it is today. Kei also became a lead expert in Complex’s Audience Development and Branded Content team.

Outside of music, Henderson also founded fine art and retail community space 2NDBDRM in 2020, serving as a destination for buyers with taste and aspirational living goals.

Kei is a member of The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective, Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) and serves as a mentor at Project-Go-Dark and Femme it Forward. Kei has made multiple appearances in Billboard’s most influential lists including Pride, New Power Generation and R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players. She has also been featured in Complex, Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and DJ Booth among others.

Henderson holds her B.A. in Print Journalism from Elon University. When she’s not leading the way, you can find Kei teaching the way at music, tech, and marketing conferences annually.