The Leadership Brief

SINCE TAKING OVER AS CEO OF THE Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last July, Bill Kramer has been putting out fires.

- Eliana Dockterman

The Academy is still dealing with the fallout of Will Smith's slapping Oscars host Chris Rock. And in January, a celebrity-backed campaign that some accused of violating Academy rules powered Andrea Riseborough to a surprise Best Actress nomination for her performance in the little-seen To Leslie, boxing out two Black actors who had been considered contenders, Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler. The Academy launched an investigation but decided not to rescind Riseborough's nomination. Kramer spoke to TIME about the controversies and adding a "crisis team" for the big night.