The newly formed Board of Directors of SAG-AFTRA met for the first time over the weekend, and confirmed David P. White as national executive director of the newly merged union.
The vote to approve White's contract was held Sunday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
Also read: SAG-AFTRA Merger Opponents Drop Plans for Legal Action
With the recommendation of the union's national officers and executive committee, the directors authorized White's new three-year contract, which will expire in May, 2015.
White served as SAG general counsel from 2002-06 and as national executive director from 2009 until the merger.
Kim Roberts Hedgpeth, who had been AFTRA's national executive director, is stepping down.
“I am pleased with the Board’s action and am grateful for their vote of confidence. We’ve achieved a tremendous success with our recent merger, but there is much more to be done and I look forward to working with the officers, directors and our talented staff team to continue to improve our operations and further empower and serve the members of SAG-AFTRA,” White said.
“David has clearly shown his management acumen and ability to direct our organization and lead our staff in implementing critical operational initiatives. There is no better person to lead SAG-AFTRA and we are thrilled that he will continue as national executive director,” said co-presidents Ken Howard and Roberta Reardon.
Reardon and Howard acknowledged the occasion of the first meeting and praised the directors for their dedication and commitment during the merger education and outreach effort.
Howard said, “Our board laid the cornerstone of an innovative organization built on the foundation of what has come before. It won’t always be easy, but the work has begun and we will move it forward. SAG-AFTRA members are counting on us to lead the way, and we will not fail them.”
Reardon said, “There is much to do, but together we will be successful.”