CISAC announces new Board Directors

Sofia, Bulgaria – 29 May 2025 – As CISAC’s annual General Assembly events continue this week in Sofia, Bulgaria, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers announces its newly elected Board of Directors appointees, with Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, elected as Chair.

See full list of CISAC Board members below.

Ormston brings over 20 years of experience in music rights management, policy and advocacy. Since 2018, he has served as CEO of APRA AMCOS, Australia and New Zealand’s music rights management organisation, representing over 124,000 songwriters, composers and publishers. On his appointment, Ormston said:

“Being elected Chair of the CISAC Board at such a pivotal moment for creators worldwide is an honour. As the creative economy enters a new era shaped by AI and global digitalisation, the opportunity to secure a fair and thriving future for creators has never been greater.

“Creators are central to the cultural, social and economic fabric of every nation. Each country has a responsibility to nurture its own cultural voices by ensuring a strong copyright framework and enabling creators to share in the value generated by innovations such as Generative AI.

“CISAC's global network is uniquely positioned to amplify the voice of these creators to decision-makers across the world. I look forward to working with the new Board and the entire CISAC community to champion creators’ rights, further develop our services, and empower societies and their members to lead in this rapidly changing global market.”

Joining Ormston in the Board’s leadership are Urban Pappi, Director General of German visual arts society VG Bild-Kunst, elected as Vice-Chair for the first time, and Jennifer Brown, CEO of Canada’s SOCAN, re-elected for a second term as Vice-Chair. CISAC’s new Board appointments come at a time when the confederation is intensifying its work to improve music data systems, support policy development, and promote fairer conditions for creators in the digital economy.

In addition, it was announced at CISAC’s General Assembly in Sofia that three new societies are joining the CISAC Board: KODA (Denmark), SGAE (Spain) and DACS (UK).

CISAC Director General Gadi Oron welcomed the Board appointments, stating: “This is a strong and forward-looking Board, bringing together valuable experience, and broad geographic and sectoral diversity. I am delighted to welcome Dean Ormston as Chair and to work with him, our Vice-Chairs, and all Board members as we continue our mission to defend the rights of creators and support our member societies. We are focused on delivering results that make a meaningful impact for creators around the world.” 

Dean Ormston succeeds Marcelo Castello Branco, CEO of Brazilian society UBC, who completed six years of service as Board Chair, guiding CISAC through a period of transformation. Reflecting on his tenure, Castello Branco said: “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my fellow Board members and the entire community I have had the privilege to engage with over these years. I am optimistic about the future of the collective management landscape. We must never forget that it is the creators who are our top priority. They are the fundamental reason for our existence and our ability to thrive in the future.”

Paying tribute to Marcelo Castello Branco’s tenure at the General Assembly, Gadi Oron said: “Marcelo is one of those people who definitely makes things happen. Quietly, diplomatically, and always in a humble way and with a friendly approach, Marcelo can move mountains, build bridges and bring people together. I owe Marcelo a special thanks and gratitude”.

Board of Directors composition for the years 2025-2028

• Dean Ormston, Chairperson (APRA AMCOS, Australia)
• Jennifer Brown, Vice-Chair (SOCAN, Canada)
• Urban Pappi, Vice-Chair (VG Bild-Kunst, Germany)
• András Szinger (ARTISJUS, Hungary)
• Elizabeth Matthews (ASCAP, USA)
• Christian Zimmermann (DACS, UK)
• Ricardo Gómez Cabaleiro (DAMA, Spain)
• Tobias Holzmüller (GEMA, Germany)
• Kazumasa Izawa  (JASRAC, Japan)
• Gorm Arildsen (KODA, Denmark)
• Ga Yeoul Chu (KOMCA, Republic of Korea)
• Andrea Czapary Martin (PRS for Music, UK)
• Patrick Raude (SACD, France)
• Cécile Rap Veber (SACEM, France)
• Roberto Cantoral Zucchi (SACM, Mexico)
• Guillermo Ocampo (SADAIC, Argentina)
• Annabell Lebethe (SAMRO, South Africa)
• Cristina Perpiñá-Robert Navarro (SGAE, Spain)
• Matteo Fedeli (SIAE, Italy)
• Marcelo Castello Branco (UBC, Brazil)