CMA's Whiteside To ACM: CMA Chief Marketing Officer Damon Whiteside has been named CEO for the Academy of Country Music. He fills the post opened by the departure of Pete Fisher (Breaking News 5/20), who was replaced on an interim basis by RAC Clark. Whiteside starts Jan. 6 and will split time between the Academy's Encino, CA office and Nashville. He joined CMA in 2013, rising from SVP/Marketing & Strategic Partnerships to CMO in 2017 (CAT 1/26/17) and has 23 years of entertainment experience, including a long tenure with Disney.

“I am extremely proud of the monumental accomplishments that our dedicated team at CMA has been able to achieve these last six years thanks to the support and guidance of the CMA board and Sarah Trahern,” Whiteside says. "I am honored and humbled to now be given the responsibility to shape the future of the Academy. I am excited to draw upon my deep passion, unique experience and important relationships across the country music and mainstream entertainment media industries to reinforce the organization's mission, rejuvenate its influence, and redefine its purpose to benefit the entire country music ecosystem."

"We are confident that he will enhance the Academy's ability to bring together fans, artists and the industry while enabling the organization's charitable arm, ACM Lifting Lives, to impact more lives than ever before," says Academy board Chair Ed Warm. Adds Clark, "Damon joining the ACM is exactly what the Academy needs right now. I’ve been part of the ACM Awards since 1979, and I can’t wait to pass along everything I can to Damon from my experience as an ACM board member, Interim Executive Director and Executive Producer of the telecast.”

Reach Whitside here.