Academy names Jeanell English as executive vice president, impact and inclusion

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has promoted Jeanell English to executive vice president, impact and inclusion, Academy CEO Bill Kramer announced. English will report directly to Kramer.

In this newly created position, English will lead the Academy’s initiatives designed to address underrepresentation across the industry and to discover, empower, and advance the work of emerging and diverse film artists. As part of this portfolio, English will oversee the Academy’s talent development programs, known as Academy Gold. These programs include the Gold Rising internship and mentorship program, Gold Fellowship for Women, Student Academy Awards, Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, and the Gold Alumni Program.

In addition, English will continue to oversee the Academy’s sustainability, representation, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. This includes the implementation of the Representation and Inclusion Standards, internal initiatives such as supplier diversity and employee resource groups, and ongoing carbon footprint assessments to inform business practices.

“Over the last two years, Jeanell has been an invaluable part of our evolving Academy team,” noted Kramer. “Her commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion has driven progress across Academy departments, as have her contributions to creating a more sustainable and accessible institution. The Academy is deeply dedicated to elevating emerging and underrepresented voices across the film industry, and in this new role, Jeanell will bring her expertise and vision to this important work as well.”

English joined the Academy staff in 2020 and most recently held the position of Vice President, Impact and Operations. Prior to joining the Academy, English worked for more than a decade in the areas of global diversity and inclusion strategy, employee engagement, corporate social responsibility, cross-cultural training, and talent management. She was most recently a director at Discovery, Inc. (now Warner Bros. Discovery).