TV Academy President Lucy Hood dies

Lucy Hood, a well-regarded entertainment industry veteran and president and chief operating officer of the Television Academy, died Wednesday of cancer. She was 56.

Prior to joining the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Hood was the executive director of the Institute for Communication Technology Management at USC.

Hood spent much of her professional career at Fox, where she specialized in digital technology and rose to become president of Fox Mobile Entertainment. While there, she oversaw the creation of the mobile video version of the hit Fox series “24.”

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Hood was tapped to run the Television Academy, which oversees the annual Primetime Emmy Awards, less than a year ago. Her mandate was to bring the academy into the 21st century and make it more relevant to both the industry and the general public.

Academy Chairman Bruce Rosenblum said Hood was “an innovator and thought leader” and added that “her extraordinary impact and contributions were deeply felt throughout the organization. Lucy will be greatly missed.”

Hood is survived by her husband, Rob Biniaz, and children Rachel and Benjamin.