The Dawn Hudson era of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is officially over. Today, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted in Bill Kramer as the new CEO of the Academy. Kramer is currently the director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
READ MORE: Oscars New Rules: Social Media, Golden Globes, Original Song, and more
In his new position, Kramer will effectively remain president of the Academy Museum while taking on the larger responsibilities of running AMPAS. In a statement, the Academy noted that Kramer, “will lead the global membership, the Oscars, the institution’s education and emerging talent initiatives, the Academy’s extensive collections housed in the Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, and the Academy Museum and its ongoing calendar of exhibitions, screenings, educational and public programs, and retail operations.” In many ways, this allows the Academy to save a little bit of salary by not replacing Kramer at the Academy Museum.
Hudson has been the CEO of AMPAS for 11 years and has been part of the leadership that has transformed the Academy’s membership, steered the opening of the Academy Museum, and dealt with numerous controversies (a number of which you could argue were self-inflicted).
Kramer previously was vice president of development at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and the managing director for the Academy Museum as the Academy spent years raising funding for the project. He has also led capital and comprehensive campaigns for the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and has served in senior business and fundraising positions at the Sundance Institute, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and Columbia University School of the Arts.
In a statement, outgoing Academy President David Rubin noted, “Bill Kramer has been a transformational leader in establishing the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures as a beacon for movie lovers and a manifestation of everything the Academy represents and celebrates. His vision for the Academy’s future is likewise bold and inspiring, and our governors have agreed he is the ideal choice to lead at this pivotal moment for the organization. We believe Bill has the ability to bring together all corners of the motion picture community, and we’re thrilled to have him in this role to elevate the organization and unite our global membership. I cannot stress enough the deep respect and appreciation we have for the groundbreaking achievements Dawn Hudson has brought to the Academy during her eleven years as CEO. She initiated unprecedented efforts to create more space for diverse voices, both within the membership and our industry. She was tireless in shepherding our long-awaited museum to its opening and has fortified the Academy’s financial stability, allowing us to develop programs and provide mentoring for those in front of and behind the camera. Our gratitude for her accomplishments and guidance is beyond measure.”
Hudson added, “What a privilege it’s been to work with an exceptionally talented staff and dedicated board members to create a truly global institution, a world-class museum that honors this art form so beautifully, an abiding commitment to representation and inclusion, and a modern organization ready to lead in a changing world. I’ve worked with Bill for close to a decade, and no executive is more innovative, more connected to artists, or more passionate about the opportunities that lie ahead than he is. The Academy and the Academy Museum are in the best of hands.”
Chair of the Academy Museum Board of Trustees and Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos also remarked, “The Academy Museum Board of Trustees is thrilled that Bill will be continuing his work with us as the CEO of the Academy and as a Trustee of the Museum Board. The museum’s opening has been a resounding success, and I look forward to working with Bill to help further amplify the museum’s robust programs and create a unifying and strategic vision for the future.”
Kramer noted, “It is the great honor of my career to take on the role as CEO of the Academy. I deeply believe in the power and artistry of cinema. I so look forward to galvanizing the unparalleled assets of the Academy—the Oscars, our global community of more than 10,000 Academy members, and our museum, library, and archive—to promote and elevate the arts and sciences of the movies and inspire the next generation of filmmakers. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the incredible work of my colleagues Brendan Connell, Jr. and Jacqueline Stewart, who will continue the exceptional work of the Academy Museum.”
Next up on the Academy agenda will be voting for a new slate of officers, including the President, which will happen later this summer.