GRAMMYS HAVE A NEW AWARDS CHIEF

The Recording Academy has put Ruby Marchand in charge of the Grammy Awards process as the Academy restructures its Awards Department. Joanna Chu has been elevated to Vice President of Awards.

As Chief Awards & Industry Officer, Marchand will oversee both Awards and Membership & Industry Relations, reporting to the Academy's Co-President, Valeisha Butterfield Jones. Marchand will work with genre managers on the Awards team in their outreach to musical communities across the country.

Marchand, who joined the Academy as Chief Industry Officer in 2020, will also focus on strategies that enhance the alignment between Awards and Membership, overseeing the Membership team as well as the leaders of the Producers & Engineers Wing, Songwriters & Composers Wing and GRAMMY U.

In the newly created role of Vice President of Awards, Chu will lead the team through all aspects of the Awards season. Chu will report to Marchand.

The promotions follow the recent departure of Bill Freimuth, the Academy’s Chief Awards Officer.

"I am proud to welcome Ruby and Joanna to their new positions as we work to enhance our awards processes from the inside out," said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. "Their expertise in this space is highly valuable as we continue to refine the Recording Academy's role in the music industry and work to provide the highest quality of service to our members."

Marchand, a former A&R exec for Warner Music Group, has held several leadership roles at the Academy including Vice Chair of the Academy and Co-Chair of the Awards & Nominations Committee. She's also been a member of the National Advocacy Committee.

Chu, who was previously Director and Managing Director in the Academy's Awards Department, is a former software engineer in the aerospace industry.