August 18, 2022

Valeisha Butterfield Jones Joins Google For VP Role On Its Diversity Team

Recording Academy co-president, Valeisha Butterfield Jones, has moved on from her role to join Google’s diversity team, where previously worked as the global head of inclusion.

Butterfield Jones has been a part of the Academy for over two years and played a vital role in the organization’s leadership team as a chief diversity officer. She oversaw and managed the business culture, membership, awards, and people. 

After working alongside Google’s inclusion team, Butterfield Jones is expected to re-join the tech giant in October as VP of partnerships on the diversity team, according to Variety.

“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 [the] music and the world,” Butterfield Jones said. 

“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.” 

Despite her departure from the Recording Academy, Butterfield Jones will not be leaving the music scene entirely. She will continue to serve The Academy and assist the wider music community. Additionally, she will work alongside the Black Music Collective as an honorary co-chair to help improve the inclusion and advancement of Black music. 

Kumba Kpakima

Kumba Kpakima is a reporter at POCIT. A documentary about the knife crime epidemic in the UK got her a nomination for the UK's #30toWatch Young Journalists of the Year.