Recording Academy Co-President Valeisha Butterfield Jones Steps Down for VP Role at Google
variety.comJem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn a surprise move, Recording Academy co-president Valeisha Butterfield Jones will leave the organization to return to Google, taking a new vice president role on the internet giant’s diversity team.Butterfield Jones joined the Academy in 2020 as chief diversity officer and became co-president with Panos Panay almost exactly a year ago.
She played a key role in CEO Harvey Mason jr.’s “modernized leadership team” and oversaw the organization’s people and culture, membership, awards and related initiatives.The Academy will continue to be led by Mason as CEO and Panay as president; the org will not name an additional co-president at this time.
Senior management previously reporting to Butterfield Jones will now report to Mason. Butterfield Jones will leave her post at the Academy effective Sept.
9 and will join Google in October as VP of partnerships on the diversity team, after having served previously as Google’s global head of inclusion.“This is a bittersweet moment for our Recording Academy family,” Mason said in a statement. “We are all heartbroken that Valeisha is leaving us but also, so thankful for and proud of the incredible work she has done with us over the past two years.
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