Recording Academy co-president Valeisha Butterfield Jones is moving on to a new role at her old home.
Variety reports that she is set to leave The Academy to take on a new vice president role on the diversity team at Google, where she was previously its global head of inclusion.
Butterfield Jones will officially step down on Sept. 9. Her re-arrival at Google will be in October.
“When I came to the Recording Academy over two years ago, I had a clear mission: to make the Recording Academy the most inclusive company in music, and the world,” Butterfield Jones said, according to the outlet. “Diversity, equity and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords and as an organization, we were committed to doing the work both publicly and privately, to drive real and meaningful change. It has been one of the greatest honors of my career to serve this bold, new Recording Academy, and my service to our mission will continue in new and even more impactful ways.”
As of now, once the executive leaves, The Academy will not name a co-president to take her place.
Since 2020, Butterfield Jones’ work has been instrumental to CEO Harvey Mason Jr.’s “modernized leadership team.” Additionally, she “oversaw the organization’s people and culture, membership, awards and related initiatives,” the outlet notes. In about two months, she will work to improve Google’s initiatives, especially relating to diversity.
“Valeisha is a true leader in bringing people together as she’s done during her time at the Academy, and previously at Google, and she will play a critical role in our external partnerships and inclusion programs,” said Melonie Parker, Google’s chief diversity officer. “I am thrilled for Valeisha’s return and for the indelible mark she’ll continue to make.”
Although she’s leaving the Recording Academy, Butterfield Jones isn’t leaving the music space in totality. She is set to continue serving The Academy and the broader music community as she is an honorary co-chair of the Black Music Collective, the organization’s advisory group of music industry leaders dedicated to the inclusion and advancement of Black music.
