HFPA New Board Selects Its Three Non-Members As Part Of Reforms – Update

Patrick Hipes
·2 min read

UPDATED with selection of non-member to board of directors: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association on Tuesday said its newly elected board of directors has selected the three non-members — Jeff Harris, Dr. Joanna Dodd Massey and Sharlette Hambrick to join the board.

The new board now has a total of 15 directors per the HFPA’s new bylaws after 12 were newly elected in August. Last week, that board elected German journalist Helen Hoehne as president.

More from Deadline

The HFPA board’s three independent members will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s reform plan. Overall, the board is the main policy-making body for the HFPA. It is currently searching for a new CEO.

PREVIOUSLY, August 31: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has taken the latest step in its highly publicized restructure, saying Tuesday that it has elected a newly expanded board of directors that will eventually select a president and CEO of the embattled organization.

Among the raft of bylaw reforms ratified by the Golden Globe group includes requiring 15 total directors: 12 active (internal) members and the three non-members (outside).

Elected to the board today were Helen Hoehne, Gabriel Lerman, Sabrina Joshi, Yukiko Nakajima, Scott Orlin, Kirpi Uimonen, Henry Arnaud, Barbara de Oliveira Pinto, Barbara Gasser, Tina Johnk Christensen, Greet Ramaekers and Armando Gallo.

Lerman, Joshi, Arnaud, Gasser and Ramaekers are newcomers, having never before served. The new body will next select the three non-members.

The HFPA also elected a Credentials Committee: Michele Manelis, Barbaros Tapan and Alessandra Venezia. All are first-time board members; three more will be added.

The HFPA said all board and committee members will undergo DEI and leadership training. Next up: Board members will vote for a new president directly from among the new board membership.

“Our bylaw vote in early August was an important signal to the industry that we intend to keep our promises on reform,” HFPA president Ali Sar said. “Today’s election results build this new, stronger governance structure for the HFPA. We are confident that with this new Board – and soon, a new President – accountability, diversity and inclusion will be at the heart of everything we do.”

As per the bylaws, the HFPA is still to hire a CFO, a Chief Human Resource Officer and a Chief Diversity Officer.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.