Eric Baptiste, Chief Executive Officer of Canadian performing rights society SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors & Music Publishers of Canada) has resigned as the company’s CEO, effective immediately.
Jennifer Brown, Senior Vice President Operation & Reproduction Rights, has been appointed to the role of Interim CEO during the formal process of identifying a permanent CEO.
SOCAN recently revealed that it is allocating up to a total of CAD $2 million ( approximately $1.4m) for emergency royalty advances to help “struggling members” as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
According to the release announcing Baptiste’s departure, “[his] decision is purely coincidental to the current COVID-19 crisis, and the Board of Directors has full faith in SOCAN’s executive management team”.
It adds that the “the organization continues to operate at full capacity”.
“With the end of the current CEO contract approaching, Eric thought it was time to move on and a mutual decision was reached with the Board to end his tenure now.”
Jennifer Brown has been on SOCAN’s executive team for nearly 10 years.
She was previously Vice President of the company’s Licensing department and has worked with the company for more than two decades.
“During this time, SOCAN has seen growth and has maintained its presence as a leader in serving music creators and publishers in Canada and around the world.”
Marc Ouellette, SOCAN
“We thank Eric Baptiste for his leadership over the past 10 years,” said Marc Ouellette, President & Chair of SOCAN’s Board of Directors.
“During this time, SOCAN has seen growth and has maintained its presence as a leader in serving music creators and publishers in Canada and around the world.”Music Business Worldwide
