The Recording Academy Board of Trustees has appointed Deborah Dugan as the next President/CEO of the Recording Academy. The appointment was announced today by John Poppo, Chair of the Board. Dugan will formally assume the role of President/CEO on Aug. 1, 2019, replacing Neil Portnow, who had held the role since 2002; he will stay on for an unspecified transition period.
“I’m honored, humbled, and ready,” said Dugan in a statement. “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 organization into the future. I’m excited to get started.”
Dugan launched her career as a Wall Street mergers and acquisition attorney and has since served as president of Disney Publishing Worldwide and, for eight years, executive vp at EMI/Capitol Records. She joined non-profit AIDS organization (RED) as CEO in 2011. During her time at (RED), which was founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Dugan tripled the org's contributions to The Global Fund, which now tally more than $500 million.
She currently serves as co-chair of the award-winning storytelling nonprofit The Moth.
Dugan will oversee all Recording Academy affairs in her new position, working closely with the Academy's Board of Trustees and senior management team. That includes serving as president/CEO of charity org MusiCares and on the boards of the GRAMMY Museum Foundation and The Latin Recording Academy.
