1. Home
  2. About Sabam
  3. Structure
Structure

General assembly

What is that?

The General Assembly represents all the associates (authors and publishers) of Sabam. It meets every year at 2.00 p.m. on the third Monday in May. All associates are invited to the General Assembly, but only associates who have returned the attendance report to the registered office in accordance with the required formalities and within the time set may attend (cf. Article 39 of the Statutes) and only the associates who have paid the nominal value of the company share (namely EUR 124) by not less than 60 calendar days before the date of the General Assembly may exercise their voting rights.

The General Assembly has the following powers:

  • Appointment and dismissal of the directors, the additional members of the Colleges and the Commission;
  • Changing of the statutes and the Global Agreement.
  • Approval of the annual accounts.
Its role?

The General Assembly is chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

It appoints and dismisses the directors, the additional members of the Colleges and the Commission and the auditor.

It decides on the submission of changes to the statutes and the Global Agreement. It is also empowered to give opinions on proposed changes to the rules of procedure of the social and cultural fund.

The decisions of the General Assembly take immediate effect unless expressly decided otherwise by the Assembly proper. Changes to the statutes and the Global Agreement come into effect on 1 January of the year following the General Assembly at which the changes were approved.

Board of directors

What is that?

The Board of Directors consists of 8 members (one half from the Dutch language regime, the other half from the French language regime), supplemented by one independent director - chairman. In order to safeguard the interests of all the associates, the Board has a fixed composition, giving consideration to the multidisciplinary character and the capacity or author or publisher.

Chairman
  • Anne-Catherine Chevalier
Dutch-speaking members
  • CTM Entertainment Belgium (represented by Stefaan Moriau)
  • Jan Hautekiet 
  • Ilse Nackaerts
  • Geertje Slangen
French-speaking members
  • Benoît Dobbelstein
  • Manuel Hermia
  • Yves Ringer
  • Team for Action (represented by Benoît Goes)
The eligibility requirements are laid down in the statutes.

The board of Directors has all the powers which are not reserved for the General Assembly according to the statutes or to company law.

Its role?

It is responsible for drawing up the annual accounts, for determining the strategy of the association and the choice of the projects to be implemented.
The powers of the Board are not limited to the day-to-day management, but also include the determining of a long-term vision.
This also implies the taking of decisions on the allocation of the necessary financial resources.
 

Colleges

Sabam has a multidisciplinary nature. Therefore, the board of directors establishes two colleges:

  • the Music college;
  • the Word & Image college. 

Their role

Both colleges address operational matters within their respective disciplines. They are authorised to set rates and establish rules for invoicing and distribution.

Composition of the Music College

Dutch-speaking members:

  • Serge Ramaekers
  • Sabine Tielens
  • Studio Entertainment (represented by Petra Vonck)

French-speaking Members:

  • Pierre Dumoulin
  • Hughes Maréchal
  • Het Gerucht (represented by Herman van Laar)


Composition of the Word & Image College 

Dutch-speaking members:

  • Eva Cools
  • Bram Renders
  • Christina Vandekerckove

French-speaking Members:

  • Barbara Abel
  • Anne Franck
  • Aurélie Wijnants

 

Management committee & CEO

The management committee implements the decisions of the governing body and is headed by the CEO of Sabam. 

The management committee is composed as follows:

  • Steven De Keyser - CEO
  • Tom Bruyninckx - Operations
  • Steven Desloovere - Music
  • Séverine Marijsse - Audiovisual, Performing and Visual Arts and Literature
  • Inge Vanderveken - HR, Legal & Facilities
  • Stijn Van Reusel - Finance & Business Control

Steven De Keyser is assisted in his role as CEO by:

  • Olivier Maeterlinck - Communication, Public Affairs & Sabam for Culture
  • Sophie De Neve - Management & Board Assistant

Liaison committee

The Liaison committee consists of:

  • The Chairperson of the board of directors
  • The Chairperson of the Music College 
  • The Chairperson of the Word & Image College
  • The General Director
Its role

The Liaison committee has a tripartite role. It acts as a bridge between the board of directors and the General Director, ensuring effective communication and mutual reporting. It also serves as a forum for consultation among the Chairperson of the board of directors, the Chairpersons of the Music College and Word & Image College, and the General Director. Additionally, it is responsible for preparing the agenda for the board of directors meetings.

The Liaison committee reviews the preparation of the budget, the annual accounts, and the strategy, and provides advice. It supervises the operation of the Management Committee and monitors the implementation of the strategy in daily operations and associated risks, without usurping the oversight function of the board of directors. Decision-making arising from the supervisory role delegated to the Liaison committee remains the exclusive responsibility of the board of directors.