Recording Academy Enhances Comms Dept.
• The Recording Academy® announced two enhancements to its Communications’ team with the news that Sean Smith is joining the company in the newly created role of Executive Vice President of Communications, effective Oct. 25, and Andie Cox has been elevated to Vice President of Communications, effective immediately.
Reporting to Co-President Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Smith (left), with the support of Cox (right), will lead the overall communications strategy for the Academy, including media relations, corporate communications and reputation management. Cox will report to Smith and join him in reinforcing key Academy goals and initiatives through the organization’s communications efforts.
As EVP, Smith will work with the executive office to develop the Academy’s communication strategy and contribute to the strategic planning process for the organization with a global focus, while directly managing communication objectives that promote, enhance and protect the organization’s brand reputation. He will also lead corporate communications, event and entertainment public relations, brand reputation, and crisis mitigation and management, including the client relations and deliverables of specialized communication agencies.
Cox is responsible for supporting Smith in the creation of the overall communications strategy for the Recording Academy and implementing and executing communications plans and promotions for the GRAMMY Awards® and all GRAMMY® Week initiatives. She also leads public relations efforts for the Recording Academy’s 12 Chapters nationwide. She also spearheads the communication strategies for the Academy’s Advocacy Department, Awards Process and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives.
“The Academy continues to expand the talent and breadth of experience within its leadership team with the appointments of Sean and Andie to their new roles in the communications department,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Together with their extensive knowledge and innovation in the field, they will play a pivotal role in enhancing our communications efforts as we head into a global sphere.”
Smith most recently served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Counsel at public relations firm Porter Novelli. Earlier in his career, Smith served as the Asst. Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He also held past roles in three presidential campaigns, and served in a variety of public affairs capacities and has been a lecturer at Yale University, Johns Hopkins and UC San Diego. Cox joined the Academy in 2014 as a Sr. Manager in the Marketing Communications department and was later promoted to Director. She most recently served as Managing Director of Communications. Prior to the Academy, Cox held roles at the GRAMMY Museum®, Victory Records, Bonneau Production Services and Ragan Communications. [Sean Smith photo courtesy of Sean Smith/photo by Susan Hyde; Andie Cox photo: Liz Hassett]
