Today, 9 June, the newly constituted Administrative Council of AEPO-ARTIS held its first meeting. One of its first responsibilities was the election of a new President and two Vice-Presidents.
The members of the Administrative Council unanimously elected Christophe Van Vaerenbergh, Managing Director of AEPO-ARTIS’ Belgian member organisation PlayRight, as President of AEPO-ARTIS, and Patricia Riera-Barsallo and Pál Tomori have been re-elected as Vice-Presidents.
A member of the AEPO-ARTIS Administrative Council since June 2023, Christophe has distinguished himself through his strong commitment, efficiency, and valuable contributions to the organisation’s work.
As Managing Director of PlayRight, the Belgian collective management organisation for performers, both actors and musicians, for more than 15 years, he brings extensive expertise in intellectual property, media, and telecommunications law. Before joining PlayRight, Christophe worked for several Belgian ministers on policy issues ranging from intellectual property and privacy to public IT policy. He also served as the head of the Belgian Standards Bureau and is a qualified lawyer with specialised training in IT and telecommunications law from KU Leuven and the University of Namur.
Upon his election, Christophe thanked the Administrative Council for the expressed trust and former President, Dr. Tilo Gerlach, for his 20-year old service and stated:
“The challenges facing performers today go far beyond collective management. From the impact of AI on the creative sector to strengthening copyright protections and advancing international recognition of performers’ rights, there is important work ahead.
I remain fully committed to ensuring that the voices of artists are heard at every level of decision-making. Together with our members, partners, and stakeholders, we will continue to advocate for a stronger, more transparent, and more effective framework that protects performers and supports their future in an evolving creative landscape.”
The Administrative Council also expressed its sincere gratitude to Tilo Gerlach for his long and dedicated service as President. Following his earlier decision not to stand for another term, Tilo concluded his presidency after many years of leadership and commitment to the organisation and will continue to serve as a member of the Board.
