Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1401622
Taking the Reins Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Hits the Ground Running as National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator S AG-AFTRA's newest national executive director is no stranger to the union's operations. When he took over as the union's top employee on June 21, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland came with years of hands-on experience in nearly everything the union does. He served as general counsel since 2006 and as chief operating officer since 2014. After then-National Executive Director David White announced his departure on May 14, Crabtree-Ireland was the natural choice. On May 26, the National Board appointed him as its next national executive director and chief negotiator and approved a three-year contract. He comes in as the union's best-prepared national executive director in recent memory. "I am incredibly pleased with this appointment. Duncan is simply an extraordinary executive with the experience and expertise that this role demands," said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. "The decision of the Board expresses their deep understanding and focus on what is best for SAG-AFTRA and our membership." During his tenure as SAG-AFTRA's second in command, Crabtree-Ireland has been involved in many of SAG-AFTRA's signature achievements, including being a key participant in the merger between SAG and AFTRA in 2012, and serving as the coordinator of SAG-AFTRA's successful COVID safety response and return-to-work initiatives. Crabtree-Ireland has been the lead negotiator for SAG-AFTRA's music contracts as well as its contract with the Telemundo network for Spanish-language productions — the first new network television contract in over 50 years. He is bilingual in English and Spanish, and is a co-host of SAG-AFTRA's English and Spanish podcasts. He has played a central role in strategic planning efforts and diversity programs, including overseeing SAG-AFTRA's Legal, Equity & Inclusion, Governance, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Professional Representatives, Administration, and Information 42 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2021 | sagaftra.org Duncan Crabtree-Ireland addresses representatives of Latin American actor unions in 2019 to discuss SAG-AFTRA's agressive work fighting sexual harassment.