Blog Post

AEPOC Announces Association's New Executive Director

AAPA

25th January 2011

AEPOC, the European Association for the Protection of Encrypted Works and Services, announces the appointment of Sheila Cassells to the position of AEPOC Executive Director. Sheila Cassells will assume the duties of the Executive Director as of February 1st, 2011; her designation was confirmed unanimously within an AEPOC extraordinary Board of Directors meeting on January 21st. In her new role Sheila Cassells will implement and develop the Association's anti-piracy action programmes and execute the day-to-day management of AEPOC. She will report to the Board of Directors, chaired by Philippe-Olivier Rousseau.

Sheila Cassells brings to AEPOC a host of experience in the TV industry as a public policy professional. She has served in several senior management positions in both the regulatory and regulated sides of the media and communications sectors for over 20 years, including the role of Head of Economic Policy at BSkyB and as Director of Economic Regulation at the Independent Television Commission in the UK. Sheila Cassells also established and is Executive Director of the Digital Interoperability Forum (DIF) - a pan-European informal trade association for the paid-for content distribution chain addressing technology policy issues. Sheila Cassells will continue also in her role as Executive Director of DIF.

Philippe-Olivier Rousseau, AEPOC President and Chairman of the Board, said: "I am extremely pleased to welcome Sheila Cassells as new Executive Director of AEPOC. Sheila Cassells has an outstanding track record in public policy activities within the European media and telecommunication sectors; we believe she will make a very powerful contribution to our management team to support the fight against Pay-TV piracy. Sheila will also efficiently contribute to strengthen the links between AEPOC and the other trade associations fighting against piracy."

Sheila Cassells commented on her new appointment: "I am delighted to have been selected to become the new AEPOC Executive Director. I look forward to developing AEPOC's operations and the opportunity to achieve new goals in the EU and international regulatory field and drive forward industry cooperation of the AEPOC members and their partners to combat audiovisual piracy in Europe - and beyond."

Biography Sheila Cassells

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Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance 2024-2029 EU Manifesto

by AAPA • 1 October 2024

The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) publishes its first Manifesto, linked here . The document aims to recognise past efforts of EU legislators when it comes to content protection and the fight against copyright infringement, whilst admitting that more can and should be done to address this growing issue. Miruna Herovanu, Executive Director of AAPA said : " After years of laying the groundwork to combat online piracy it’s time for EU policymakers and beyond to fully acknowledge that decisive, targeted measures are needed at the European level. The rise of digital theft demands action. We call for strong political resolve to end the theft of our members' content. We're ready to support every stakeholder—law enforcement, policymakers, and industry representatives—to dismantle criminal networks and protect European consumers from harm."

AAPA ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

by AAPA • 28 May 2024

The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) has announced the appointment of Miruna Herovanu as its Executive Director. Miruna was previously the Director at the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand in Europe in charge of Intellectual Property and Competition policies. She took up her position with AAPA on 27 May 2024 and will be based in Brussels. Miruna will replace Sheila Cassells who is retiring as Executive Vice President of AAPA and will report on a day-to-day basis to the two Co-Presidents, Mark Mulready, VP of Cyber Services at Irdeto and Oliver Pribramksy, Head of IP Protection and Committees at the Deutsche Fussball Liga. She will be responsible for the implementation of the strategy agreed by AAPA members, managing relationships with law enforcement agencies such as Europol, Eurojust, INTERPOL and the European Institutions, delivery of AAPA’s Working Group goals and general management of the Alliance. Mark Mulready said that: “We are delighted to appoint someone of Miruna’s calibre and experience to become the Executive Director of AAPA. Miruna’s commitment to copyright protection is well-known. Her knowledge of the Brussels institutions and the EUIPO will stand AAPA in good stead for future policy developments. A priority will be for Miruna to work closely with AAPA members, the EUIPO and the European Institutions to deliver on, inter alia, the goals of combatting online piracy of sports and other live events recommendation.” Miruna Herovanu commented that: “My professional experience demonstrated that piracy is an ever-growing issue that eats at the heart of Europe’s most important industries. This is a golden opportunity and a new professional challenge that will help further develop my passion for and commitment to protecting copyright. Being able to work with and support industry experts and practitioners in AAPA, law enforcement, the European Institutions and other trade associations is essential to the fight against piracy. I am excited to be taking on this role.”