Deborah Dugan becomes first woman to head Recording Academy - Grammys

Deborah Dugan has created history by becoming the first woman to head Recording Academy, Grammys announced. The former (RED) CEO will take on the mantle of as Academy president and CEO from Neil Portnow, the institution confirmed Wednesday.

According to Billboard, Dugan, who currently serves as co-chair of the award-winning storytelling nonprofit The Moth, will assume the post on August 1. "I'm honoured, humbled, and ready. The goal of the Recording Academy is to support, encourage, and advocate for those within the music community. I will listen to and champion all of those individuals, and lead this iconic organisation into the future. I'm excited to get started," she said in a statement.

Dugan started off her career as a Wall Street mergers and acquisition attorney and has since served as president of Disney Publishing Worldwide. She was executive vice president at EMI/Capitol Records for eight years. She joined non-profit AIDS organisation (RED) as CEO in 2011. During her time at (RED), which was founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Dugan was instrumental in tripling the organisation's contributions to The Global Fund, which now read over USD 500 million. The new president will oversee all affairs of the Academy, work closely with the Board of Trustees and senior management team.

The duties also include Dugan serving as president/CEO of the charity organisation MusiCares and on the boards of the Grammy Museum Foundation and the Latin Recording Academy. "Deborah is a highly accomplished business executive and a visionary leader who also brings to this role a great passion for the mission of the Academy. The Board of Trustees is very eager to work with her as we embark on this next chapter in the Recording Academy's story," said John Poppo, chair of the Board of Trustees that selected Dugan from a wide pool of applicants. In May 2018, Portnow, who has served the Academy for 17 years as president-CEO, announced his exit.

(With inputs from agencies.)