Executive Turntable: Valeisha Butterfield Joins Guitar Center Music Foundation As CEO & Executive Director

Valeisha Butterfield has been appointed as CEO and executive director of Guitar Center Music Foundation.

Butterfield previously served as co-president of The Recording Academy alongside Harvey Mason jr. .

She first joined The Recording Academy in 2020 as its first chief officer of diversity and inclusion, coming in from Google where she served as the company’s global head of inclusion.

Upon her departure from the Recording Academy, she returned to Google as vp of partnerships.

She served as co-president alongside Harvey Mason jr. for a year, departing from the Recording Academy amicably.

Within her new role, Butterfield will work with Guitar Center Music Foundation’s board of directors and the foundation’s board president and chair, Curtis Heath .

“Music is a universal language and the most powerful tool in the world to connect people across generations,” Butterfield said in a statement.

“Guitar Center sits at the center fo that extraordinary ecosystem, and this is truly a full circle moment as I help lead this next chapter of the Guitar Center Music Foundation and, together, we reimagine its influence, impact and legacy.

At its core, this work is about unlocking opportunities, fueling dreams and expanding what music can make possible for the next generation.” Heath said, “Valeisha brings the rare combination of nonprofit leadership, music industry experience and operational expertise that GCMF needs for its next stage of growth.

She has spent her career building organizations, developing partnerships and bringing people together around a shared purpose.

We’re excited to have her leadership as we expand the Foundation’s reach and create more opportunities for people to experience the power of music.” — Ariel King