Deborah Dugan, the CEO of Bono’s (RED) organization, has been named president and CEO of the Recording Academy, becoming the first woman appointed to lead the organization.
The academy announced Wednesday that Dugan will succeed Neil Portnow, who has led the Grammys since 2002. He chose not to seek an extension on his contract, which ends this year.
Dugan will formally start the new job Aug. 1.
Before joining (RED), the AIDS organization that launched in 2006, Dugan was president of Disney Publishing Worldwide and executive vice president at EMI/Capitol Records. She started her career as an attorney on Wall Street.
Dugan’s hire comes after Portnow was criticized at the 2018 Grammys when he said women need to “step up” when asked about the lack of female winners in a backstage interview. Portnow later apologized.