The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) on Monday announced the extension of CEO Mark Rosin’s contract “for a further 10 months, while it seeks a suitable candidate to take over the position”.
Rosin has headed up the organisation since February 2020, when he was appointed CEO on a two-year contract.
At the time, he was tasked with turning around and rightsizing an ailing SAMRO, with some, at the time, describing it as one of the hardest jobs in the South African music industry.
However, he rose to the challenge and took charge of both the strategic and operational elements of the organisation as SAMRO did not have a COO at the time.
We are pleased that Mark has agreed to an extension. SAMRO has seen a successful turnaround and significant positive changes that were achieved over the last two years, said SAMRO Chairperson Nicholas Maweni.
“We have made great strides in removing the shackles of the past and making SAMRO an effective and efficient member-centric organisation.
Under Marks leadership, we have also seen a significant increase in revenue from music users, in part because SAMRO signed more favourable contracts with them.
“This has resulted in higher royalty pay-outs to our members”.
SAMRO said the board extended Rosins employment contract so that he can conclude the 2021/2022 financial year, which ends in June 2022.
The extension will also give the board enough time to secure a new CEO.
The extension will enable him to hand the position over to his successor in a structured and organised manner, with enough time for preparation,” said Maweni.
“The board has embarked on an extensive and broad search for the right individual and will be considering prospective CEO candidates over the next few months.
We are expecting to appoint a suitable candidate who will start working with Mark in the second half of 2022 and will assume the position full-time at the beginning of the last quarter of 2022.”
