The Grammys have just appointed their first female president and CEO
In the past the Recording Academy, the organisation behind the Grammy Awards, has come under scrutiny for its treatment of women. Now, in a welcome move, it has announced the appointment of Deborah Dugan as the first female CEO and president in its 62-year history. Dugan, who previously held the position of chief of Red, a non-profit group (founded by Bono of U2) that works to eradicate AIDS and other diseases, will assume her new role on August 1. Taking to Twitter, Dugan shared the news in a tweet: “Thrilled to share I am joining the Recording Academy as the next president/CEO. I’m honoured, humbled and ready. Excited for this new chapter.”
Neil Portnow, the academy’s leader since 2002, announced his resignation in June 2018. Dugan’s predecessor came under fire for previously suggesting women needed to “step up” in order to be recognised within the music industry, in response to public disappointment regarding the lack of female winners at the 2018 awards show. It caused so much controversy that Vogue cover star Dua Lipa called out the comment during her acceptance speech at this year’s awards, where she took home two Grammys. Later, the organisation appointed a group of employees to analyse the company’s “various barriers and unconscious biases” in a bid to tackle diversity and sexism going forward.
Dugan, who started her career as a Wall Street lawyer, has also previously been a record executive at EMI and is a former president of Disney Publishing Worldwide. “The goal of the Recording Academy is to support, encourage, and advocate for those within the music community,” Dugan said in a statement released by the Recording Academy. “I will listen to and champion all of those individuals, and lead this iconic organisation into the future. I’m excited to get started.”
This article originally appeared on Vogue.co.uk
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