December 02, 2009

By By Chris M. Walsh, N.Y. and Wade Jessen, Nashville

County Music Association CEO Tammy Genovese, a 24-year veteran of the organization, has resigned from her position, effective immediately.

Genovese is widely regarded in the industry as a resourceful and tenacious advocate for country music and its allied industries. She was instrumental in securing the television partnership for the annual CMA awards show and the CMA Music Festival special, both on ABC-TV.

She was only the fourth chief administrator in the CMA's history, succeeding Ed Benson, who was executive director for 14 years. Jo Walker-Meador, the CMA's first permanent executive director led the organization from 1962 to 1991. Walker-Meador took over administration of the CMA from former WSM executive Harry Stone, who was appointed by the CMA's founding board of directors in 1958. Stone's tenure lasted less than a year, and Walker-Meador oversaw the association in a secretarial position until she was promoted to executive director in 1962.

Steve Moore, chairman-elect of the CMA Board and senior VP of AEG Live!, will serve as interim director during the transition. The board will engage a search firm to conduct a national search for a new executive director, according to a press release.

Under Genovese, the 2009 CMA Music Festival hit record attendance and experienced a 7% increase over the prior year. The recent "43rd Annual CMA Awards" was the most watched CMA Awards since 2005.

Genovese began her career at CMA in 1985 as administrative service coordinator. She was promoted to director of administrative services in 1990 and then director of operations in 1992. In 1999, she was promoted to associate executive director. In 2006, she was named COO and within a year was appointed CEO in 2007.

Genovese?s honors include being named to Billboard's Top Women in Music list (2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009) and Nashville's Forward 50 List (2007). She is an alumnus member of Leadership Nashville and Leadership Music, a member of the Music Community CEO Group, Nashville's Agenda, NARAS, Canadian Country Music Association, ACM, Society of Association Executives, and the Women's Fund. She is also a board member of the Center for Nonprofit Management, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville Sports Council, and the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. Mayor Karl Dean recently appointed her to the newly created Music Business Advisory Council.

After today, Genovese can be reached at tgenovese15@yahoo.com.

Subscribe to Billboard magazine today!