TurnkeyZRG Tapped by the Academy of Country Music for CEO Search
May 6, 2026 – The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has retained TurnkeyZRG to lead in its search for a new CEO. Tom Truitt, Rich Tackenberg, Christopher Wingert, and Anne Johnson are leading the assignment. The Academy of Country Music seeks a visionary, results-driven leader to serve as its next CEO. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of the music industry’s most iconic organizations, leading with bold strategy, deep industry relationships, and an unwavering commitment to the artists and fans at the heart of country music.
“What excites me most about this search is the opportunity to welcome a visionary who will bring fresh eyes and bold ideas to a foundation that is already strong,” said Becky Gardenhire, board member, Academy of Country Music. “The right CEO will not simply maintain what the Academy has built — they will challenge us, inspire us, and help us reach new audiences, forge new partnerships, and reimagine how the ACM serves the broader industry. I am genuinely eager to see what innovative thinking and strategic vision a new leader will bring to the table.”
“Country music’s momentum across all music sectors — streaming, touring, festival culture, international markets, and beyond — has never been stronger,” Ms. Gardenhire said. “The ACM has a unique and powerful platform to champion that growth and to ensure that the artists, songwriters, and industry professionals who drive it are supported, celebrated, and given the tools to thrive. I believe our next CEO will recognize both the weight of that responsibility and the incredible opportunity it represents.
“If you are someone who is passionate about the future of country music, who thinks boldly, leads with purpose, and is ready to step into one of the most meaningful roles in this industry — I hope you will seriously consider this opportunity,” Ms. Gardenhire continued. “The board is united in our enthusiasm for what this next chapter holds, and we look forward to welcoming a leader who shares that vision.”
The CEO will serve as the primary architect of ACM’s growth, forging and deepening partnerships across the artist community, industry stakeholders, media partners, and fan base while overseeing all business operations with precision and purpose. A commanding presence across the entertainment landscape, this leader will elevate the ACM’s profile, champion its mission, and build the coalitions necessary to drive meaningful impact.
The Academy of Country Music seeks a CEO with a minimum 12+ years of senior business management experience, ideally in entertainment, media, or related industries, and preferably, five+ years in a leadership role. Candidates should have experience as a visionary and entrepreneurial leader with a history of driving organizational change, innovation, and revenue growth as well as an ability to conceptualize major projects from initial planning to successful completion with exceptional attention to detail. They should also have experience successfully building and leading high-performing teams, mentoring emerging talent, and achieving financial and operational objectives.
The Academy of Country Music is a professional music organization founded in 1964 to promote and support the country music industry. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, the Academy represents thousands of industry professionals and is best known for producing the annual ACM Awards, which recognize achievements in country music.
Founded in 1996, TurnkeyZRG is a specialized talent recruitment/executive search firm filling C-level, senior-level and mid-management-level positions throughout sports, media and entertainment. Over the past 25 years, the firm has filled more than 1,400 positions. TurnkeyZRG helps teams, leagues, stadiums, arenas, theaters, college athletic departments, events, sponsors, agencies, media companies, private equity companies and other clients identify, recruit, and hire the best management talent.
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Len Perna is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Turnkey. He has 30-plus years’ experience in the sports and entertainment industry, with senior-level management experience in sales, event marketing and management, sponsorships, venue feasibility and development, facility operations, licensing, and legal affairs. Since founding Turnkey, Mr. Perna has managed over 1,400 executive searches.
Experienced Search Consultants
Mr. Truitt is managing director and head of the firm’s music & live entertainment practice. Based in Nashville, TN, he brings over 27 years of executive recruiting experience to the firm. Widely regarded as the music industry’s leading talent recruiter, Mr. Truitt specializes in placing top-tier talent across business and creative roles within the entire music industry. This includes live entertainment, touring, festivals, experiential formats, venues, ticketing, recording, production, publishing, licensing, tech, and more.
Mr. Tackenberg leads the executive search practice for ZRG Partners’ media and entertainment division. He has a proven track record of recruiting world-class talent for the organizations that play critical roles in our culture, communities and society, from major media companies to digital innovators to social impact non-profits. An industry veteran, Mr. Tackenberg advises c-suite leaders and boards as they navigate the complex hiring decisions essential to the future of their organizations.
Mr. Wingert is a managing director with Aspen Leadership Group at ZRG, bringing more than 20 years of experience and leadership in 300+ executive searches across the arts and culture sector. He is deeply committed to the idea that non-profit organizations—and the people who lead them—can be transformational forces for good, building stronger, more creative, and more equitable communities through the power of mission-driven leadership.
Ms. Johnson, managing director and SVP, has brought her 25 years of higher education and non-profit fundraising experience to the benefit of many of America’s most influential artistic, medical, and educational institutions. She fills the roles of partner, advisor, strategist, and guide throughout each step of the search process. Ms. Johnson has managed a broad and diverse portfolio of close to 200 executive-level searches and placed leaders at the country’s prominent medical foundations, scientific institutes, Ivy League and research universities, liberal arts colleges, symphony orchestras, ballet and opera companies, and art museums.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
