CEDIA Alters Bylaws to Extend Board Terms to 3 Years

The CEDIA board of directors has voted to extend the term length for its board positions from the current two years to three years. Board members will still only be allowed to serve a maximum of six years. The association also voted to remove the CEO position as a voting member of the board.

The move was made given the need to have continuity in the leadership during this challenging time as the association and the industry deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the continuity will help during the continued search for a permanent CEO.

The change was outlined in a letter to members from board chairperson Rob Sutherland.

“As we approach the last quarter of 2021, I can’t help but reflect on the strength and resilience of this industry. The last year has brought many challenges for each of us personally and professionally – but I think we have every reason to be proud of the work we have done over the last year,” he noted. “Over the last 18 months, the importance of leadership continuity has come into sharp focus for the CEDIA Board across several fronts.”

“I know many members are eager to learn about our progress with the CEO search – and Vetted Solutions, our executive search firm, is approaching this process with intention and extreme care. We’ve received incredible interest in the position. The CEDIA CEO Search Committee is in the process of second round interviews and hopes to have a candidate of choice in the near future. 

“Finding the right fit for leadership of the organization is of the utmost importance; it is not a process or decision we should rush. The staff and the membership deserve a CEO that is committed to the long-term health and growth of the association and the industry. That leader, in turn, will need context and continuity to set them up for success. This brings me to the second leadership update we have to share with you,” says Sutherland.

“This month, the CEDIA Board of directors has voted in favor of a bylaws change that would adjust board member terms from two years to three years. The maximum number of years a member can serve on the board remains the same at six years. With this change, members can now serve a maximum of two consecutive terms as opposed to the previous maximum of three terms. 

“This update preserves leadership continuity across the organization as we continue a period of transition. It will also give future new board members the appropriate amount of time to get onboarded and subsequently focus on strategic objectives.

“The bylaws change also has removed the CEO as a voting member of the board. This change is in-line with association best practices and allows the board to remain objective, focused on strategic direction, and removed from operations.  As a result, the CEDIA Board will now operate with a minimum of 9 and maximum of 12 directors. This adjusted number allows for easier ratios of EMEA member directors and rest of world member directors. 

“At this point in the year, we would normally be soliciting nominations for new board members. As a result of the bylaws change, however, there will be no elections this year. We still have ample work to do in this time. CEDIA acknowledges that our board needs to accurately reflect and represent the entire industry, and we are seeking to address it. The CEDIA Governance Committee has been tasked with reviewing CEDIA’s board member nomination process with a focus on diversity and inclusion, as well as identifying the skillsets that will bring value to the leadership team.

“We look forward to sharing progress on the CEO search and the new nomination process. On behalf of myself and the rest of the CEDIA board, we would like to thank you for your continued support,” he concluded.