Three new key appointments bring additional expertise and experience to the CISAC team working for creators and rights holders worldwide.

Paris, July 5, 2012 - Director General Olivier Hinnewinkel is pleased to announce that CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) has plucked talent from the legal, technological and financial spheres to strengthen the executive team supporting authors’ societies across the globe. Three new directors have recently joined CISAC, the latest appointee being Gadi Oron, Director of Legal and Public Affairs (with effect July 3). Mr Oron joins recent recruits Adrian Garcia, Director of Information Systems (who arrived on April 24) and Anne Fortier, Director of Finance and Governance (who joined on March 5).

“CISAC is the leading worldwide network of collective management societies,” said Mr Hinnewinkel, “and we now have a high level professional team to promote the interests of creators and rights holders and provide them with the highest business standards and level of services to support them and to protect their rights.”

The appointments bring CISAC’s secretariat back to its full capacity. Mr Hinnewinkel has been restructuring and reinforcing CISAC’s staff since his October 2011 appointment in order to better serve the interests of the 233 authors’ societies in 122 countries that the Confederation represents.

Gadi Oron, Director of Legal and Public Affairs

A copyright law specialist, policy strategist and visiting senior lecturer on the creative industries at Queen Mary, University of London, Gadi Oron will oversee CISAC's legal issues and public policy globally, while providing assistance to CISAC members.

Mr. Oron has broad experience working with different sectors of the creative industries on international and domestic copyright and public policy matters. He joins CISAC from international trade association IFPI, where he worked on the recording industry's global policy positions, most recently as Deputy Director, Global Legal Policy. Prior to that, he was in private practice, specializing in intellectual property litigation and licensing.

His new position adds Public Affairs to the previous Director of Legal role. “I will be striving to help authors promote the value of their creations and maintain a persuasive voice in copyright debates,” said Mr. Oron, “and I look forward to developing the collaborative efforts of the creative community.”

Mr Hinnewinkel added: “I’m delighted we have been able to bring Gadi on board. His expertise will help promote the creative community’s interests in the international debate.”

Adrian Garcia, Director of Information Systems

Fellow new recruit Adrian Garcia brings to CISAC substantial experience in managing the technical and organizational aspects of international internet projects.

Mr Garcia joined from European telecommunications company Colt Technology Services, where he was Hosting Project Manager. Previously, he worked for Paris based web agencies ImagiNet and CoplaNet.

His new role includes managing the Common Information System (CIS) and metadata and information systems-related projects such as the Global Repertoire Database (GRD), plus project management of the tools developed by CISAC (Common Search Index; Audio Visual Index; International Documentation on Audiovisual works; musical Works Information Database).

Mr Garcia said: “developing and improving CISAC’s information systems and data-related projects will allow us to provide the highest service, standards and tools for our members internationally.”

According to Mr Hinnewinkel, “Adrian brings strong capacities to manage and coordinate international data and IT projects - that’s crucial for CISAC with the development of CIS-Net and other international projects such as the GRD.”

Anne Fortier, Director of Finance and Governance

The third new member of the CISAC team, Anne Fortier has had administrative/financial roles at several major companies in France and the UK - including Sony Music Entertainment. Having begun her career as a consultant at PriceWaterhouseCooper, she joined CISAC from German thermal and acoustic insulation systems manufacturer Pinta Elements, where she was Finance & Administration Director.

Her new position adds governance to responsibilities formerly covered by the Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs, and Ms Fortier sees that as a key part of her role. “Governance at CISAC,” she said, “ensures our authoritative Professional Rules are shared and implemented by all CISAC members to ensure integrity, transparency and efficiency.”

Mr Hinnewinkel added: “Anne provides a bridge between the Governance and Compliance Committee and CISAC’s members and will be the point person for all issues related to the Professional Rules and Binding Resolutions.”

The three new appointees, all Paris-based, report to CISAC Director General Olivier Hinnewinkel, and work in close collaboration with the secretariat’s other directors: Silvina Munich (Repertoires and Creators’ Relations); Marianne Rollet, (Communications and the World Creators Summit); Kwee-Tiang Ang, (Asia-Pacific Affairs); Mitko Chatalbashev (European Affairs); Robert Hooijer (African Affairs); and Santiago Schuster (Latin America & Caribbean Affairs).

About Authors’ societies and CISAC

Authors’ societies exist to ensure that creators' rights are licensed, collected, managed and distributed fairly. They play a key role in licensing legitimate services and collecting and distributing royalties to creators and rightsholders worldwide. They also promote cultural diversity by facilitating worldwide access to cultural works.

Presided over by legendary singer and songwriter Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees (until his death on May 20, 2012) and internationally recognized visual artist Hervé di Rosa, CISAC – the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers – is the leading worldwide network of authors’ societies protecting and promoting the interests of creators and rights holders. CISAC’s fundamental mission is to enable authors’ societies to seamlessly represent creators across the globe and, in particular, to assist them in ensuring that royalties flow to authors for the use of their works anywhere in the world. To this end, CISAC provides the highest business & technical standards to protect creators’ rights and to support the development of the international network of collective management societies.

With 233 authors’ societies from 122 countries as its members, CISAC indirectly represents around 3 million creators and publishers of artistic works in all genres (music, drama, literature, audiovisual, photography and the visual arts). In 2010, the royalties collected by CISAC's member societies in their respective national territories topped 7.5bn EUR.

Follow us: www.cisac.org

Twitter: @CISACNews and @CopyrightSummit

LinkedIn: World Copyright Summit Group

Pictures: CISAC 2012 General Assembly

CISAC TV on Dailymotion

Contacts:

Marianne Rollet, CISAC Communications Director, marianne.rollet@cisac.org +33 (0)1 55 62 08 57