November 06, 2009

By By Mark Worden, Milan

Italian collecting society SIAE has confirmed Giorgio Assumma as president, following an assembly held in Rome today (Nov. 6).

Assumma's two-year mandate expired this month and the 64-member representative
assembly voted to renew it. Theoretically, the new mandate should be for another two years, although industry sources say that this isn't yet clear.

In actual fact, Assumma's presidency had come under pressure in recent months. The membership was originally supposed to discuss the new mandate on June 23, but no vote was held after a section of the assembly staged a walk-out in protest at the society's current management.

An assembly was held again on Oct. 27, but it was agreed to delay the vote until another assembly, which was held today (Nov. 6).

The purpose of the delay was to avoid further conflict between current SIAE management's supporters and detractors. Billboard.biz understands that a compromise between the sides has been found.

On Oct. 26 SIAE's governing council chose Gaetano Blandini as the new director-general. He replaced Domenico Caridi, whose mandate had expired on Oct. 8. Deputy general-director Manlio Mallia had filled the post during the interim period.

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