SAG-AFTRA appoints Duncan Crabtree-Ireland as its new executive director

By Emmanuel Legrand

The Board of Los Angeles-based entertainment union SAG-AFTRA has appointed current Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland (pictured, below) as its next national executive director and chief negotiator. 

  Crabtree-Ireland has signed a three-year contract, effective June 21. He has served as general counsel since 2006 and as COO since 2014.

  “I couldn’t be more pleased that our board has selected Duncan Crabtree-Ireland as national executive director," SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. "Duncan is a natural choice, an experienced leader and well respected by members and staff." 

  She added: "Duncan’s leadership and command of the issues important to SAG-AFTRA members has always led his work. Whether it is his efforts on behalf of members on the international stage, spearheading the COVID-19 return-to-work initiative, leading the union’s negotiations with the major record labels and Telemundo, championing the union’s equity and inclusion initiatives, and so much more, Duncan has been involved in nearly everything the union does. With that deep level of involvement and established relationships with industry players, he is uniquely equipped to protect the membership and take SAG-AFTRA to the next level."

Innovating for the future

  The appointment follows the recent announcement that National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator David P. White was stepping down from the role he held since 2009.

  Crabtree-Ireland said he would work with the National Board, local boards, officers and staff to "build on the successes that have been achieved in recent years, as well as strategising and innovating for the future as we navigate the dramatic changes taking place in our industry." 

  SAG-AFTRA also collects and distribute residuals on behalf of its members for the use of content on free TV, basic cable, pay cable, video/DVD, New Media, and theatrical productions, as part of collective bargaining agreements with theatrical, television and new media organisations.