SOCAN makes changes in management with a boosted membership division

By Emmanuel Legrand

Canadian rights society SOCAN has announced significant management changes with the appointment of Jean-Christian Céré as Chief Membership Officer, and Vanessa Thomas as Vice-President, Member & Industry Relations, and the departures of COO Jeff King and Geneviève Côté, who was in charge of the organisation's office in Montreal.

  Céré, who joins on June 28, expands upon the Chief Membership Officer role that was vacated last November when Mike McCarty left SOCAN. Based in Montréal, Céré will oversee a department of more than 35 full-time staff, and develop "a new strategy that will deliver more for songwriters, composers, music publishers and visual artists," said SOCAN in a statement. 

  He was most recently General Manager at Astec Industries. Between 2003 and 2012, he was General Manager of the Society of Authors and Composers of Quebec (SPACQ).

Better services

  Thomas, who joins on June 14, was Executive Director of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF), which is wholly owned by SOCAN. She also worked in the past for Gavin Magazine, Nielsen Entertainment Canada, Songza and Rdio. In her new role with SOCAN, she will work with the company’s team of A&R and event management professionals. She officially starts at SOCAN on June 14.

  SOCAN also recently created a Strategic Solutions & Analytics Team, and appointed former Warner Music Group executive Alan Triger as its Head. The group has a mandate to develop new digital products and services for SOCAN members, licensed businesses, employees, and other stakeholders, and manage existing projects, such as the company’s new Member Portal.

A member-centric apporach

  SOCAN interim CEO Jennifer Brown commented: “At our last annual general meeting, we promised a sharper member-centric approach to all that we do. Jean-Christian and Vanessa deliver on that strategy and amplify our commitment to our Francophone members and stakeholders, extending partnerships and collaboration throughout Canada’s music and cultural industries.”

  Following the reorganisation of much of SOCAN’s operations, the position of Chief Operating Officer was removed, leading to the departure of Jeff King. Côté’s Quebec affairs will be fulfilled in part by Céré. Brown thanked King and Côté "for their service to SOCAN and their numerous contributions over the years."