Brendan Connell Jr.

Brendan Connell, Jr. is the Chief Operating Officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he oversees day-to-day operations across the Academy, including for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Connell is also General Counsel for the Academy Museum. Upon joining the Academy in 2018, Connell led the teams that constructed the Academy Museum, which opened to the public in September 2021. He also oversaw the hiring and training of the museum staff, the buildout of its exhibitions, and the launch of its retail and event businesses. Prior to joining the Academy, Connell worked for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City for 18 years, serving in both managerial and legal roles and finishing his time there as Deputy Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining the Guggenheim, Connell was Legal Director at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, the nation’s largest legal services organization for artists. Connell graduated from Dartmouth College and received his JD from New York University School of Law.