Dawn Hudson, CEO of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Academy Museum, has announced her current term ending in spring 2023 will be her last in the role.
Hudson will explore next steps and work on the transition. She has served more than a decade in the role, in which time she has expanded international membership, overseen diversity and inclusion measures in the wake of last decade’s #OscarsSoWhite controversies, modernised the Academy’s infrastructure and outreach, and opened the long-gestating Academy Museum.
Under her tenure the Academy more than doubled the number of women and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities within its ranks through the A2020 initiative and presided over the launch of Aperture 2025 establishing inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility.
The organisation has also grown digital infrastructure and implemented the Academy Screening Room, of particular use during the pandemic. Membership has grown from 6,000 when she assumed the reins to more than 10,000 worldwide.
“After more than ten years and the incredibly successful opening of our new museum, I’ve decided, when this term concludes, it will be time for me to explore other opportunities and adventures as this can hardly be topped,” Hudson, who previously led Film Independent, said in a statement on Monday (October 18).
“We’ve achieved so much together that’s been most important to me — our ongoing commitment to representation and inclusion; adapting the Academy into a digitally sophisticated global institution; and creating the world’s premier movie museum that will be the destination of film fans for decades. The board of governors and I are mutually committed to a seamless transition to new leadership. I’m excited for what the future holds, for both the Academy and for me.”
“Dawn has been, and continues to be, a groundbreaking leader for the Academy.” Academy president David Rubin said. “Advancements in the diversity and gender parity of our membership, our increased international presence, and the successful opening of a world-class Academy Museum — a project she revived, guided and championed — are already part of her legacy. I know the board of governors joins me in looking forward to our collaboration with Dawn in the many months ahead, as we map out a plan for succession.”
Hudson joined the Academy as CEO in 2011 and oversees a staff of 450 in Los Angeles, New York and London as well operations and outreach, awards, membership, marketing, communications, finance and technology, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Academy Foundation, which includes educational initiatives, fellowships and grants, the Margaret Herrick Library and the Academy Film Archive.
The search for Hudson’s successor will start soon.
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